monument built in their memory was placed a plaque with the names of the eight
hydrographers heroes.
In 1946 Lieutenant Commander Constantin Copaciu, alongside other specialist
officers, was part of the Soviet-Romanian Joint Commission to establish border on
the Prut, on Chilia Danube arm and Black Sea between Romania and U.R.S.S. He
argued vehemently Romanian territorial rights, according to international maritime
law. Due to differences in the interpretation of international treaties, he refused to
sign the Soviets boundary proposals for the Soviet-Romanian border, for which he
was charged with high treason and sentenced to hard labor for life and military
degradation. In 1964 he was released from prison, and in May 1965 was retired
from the Army, which recognizes him a quality captain commander, but also on the
“Antifascist War Veteran”. In 1966 he leaves Romania and settled, with his wife, in
Monaco, where he is employed at the International Hydrographic Bureau in Monte
Carlo. He became a member of the European Society of Geography and of the
Marine Research Society in London. He regained, since 1965 the right member of
the International Commission of the Danube in Vienna and was received in
American Geophysics Union of Washington and in the International Association
of Geodesy in Copenhagen. He made scientific expeditions in the North and the
South Seas, in the Mediterranean Sea, also in the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic and Artic
Ocean. The research results he published, between 1977 and 1981, in a specialized
magazine in Monaco. Is memorable the meeting between dr. Alexandru Bologa and
Captain Navy (R) Constantin Copaciu in Monte Carlo, in 1986 (Bologa 1998).
Fig. 33.10 Distroyer
Moskva wreck – WWII
(Source: With the
permission of Romanian
Maritime Hydrographic
Directorate)
558
R. Bos ¸neagu
hydrographers heroes.
In 1946 Lieutenant Commander Constantin Copaciu, alongside other specialist
officers, was part of the Soviet-Romanian Joint Commission to establish border on
the Prut, on Chilia Danube arm and Black Sea between Romania and U.R.S.S. He
argued vehemently Romanian territorial rights, according to international maritime
law. Due to differences in the interpretation of international treaties, he refused to
sign the Soviets boundary proposals for the Soviet-Romanian border, for which he
was charged with high treason and sentenced to hard labor for life and military
degradation. In 1964 he was released from prison, and in May 1965 was retired
from the Army, which recognizes him a quality captain commander, but also on the
“Antifascist War Veteran”. In 1966 he leaves Romania and settled, with his wife, in
Monaco, where he is employed at the International Hydrographic Bureau in Monte
Carlo. He became a member of the European Society of Geography and of the
Marine Research Society in London. He regained, since 1965 the right member of
the International Commission of the Danube in Vienna and was received in
American Geophysics Union of Washington and in the International Association
of Geodesy in Copenhagen. He made scientific expeditions in the North and the
South Seas, in the Mediterranean Sea, also in the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic and Artic
Ocean. The research results he published, between 1977 and 1981, in a specialized
magazine in Monaco. Is memorable the meeting between dr. Alexandru Bologa and
Captain Navy (R) Constantin Copaciu in Monte Carlo, in 1986 (Bologa 1998).
Fig. 33.10 Distroyer
Moskva wreck – WWII
(Source: With the
permission of Romanian
Maritime Hydrographic
Directorate)
558
R. Bos ¸neagu