The NGO Petro Aqua from Petroșani, after an extraordinary effort starting in June 2025 by the Association’s volunteers, in accordance with the environmental project “A Clean Mureș for Future Generations – a Commitment to UNESCO Heritage Values”, financially supported by the Municipality of Alba Iulia, the Ciugud Commune, and the Alba County Council, successfully completed and tested last week the “School Raft,” designed to teach children the secrets of steering this type of vessel.
In an official yet intimate setting, alongside families, supporters, sponsors, and close friends of rafting in Romania, we gathered again at the Partoș Port, at the dock near Hanul cu Berze, where Father Professor Florin Croitoru performed the Christian blessing ceremony for the “School Raft.” As a representative of his parish community, the Father has been more than a spiritual supporter—he has been a Christian advocate of these initiatives.
We were honored by the presence of Mayor Gabriel-Codru Pleșa, Professor Dr. Dorel Marc, scientific researcher, record-breaking swimmer Avram Iancu, the Director of the Romanian Water Management System in Alba Iulia, the Director of the Alba Iulia Environmental Protection Agency, and other representatives of neighboring local administrations. They were joined by representatives of numerous environmental NGOs and young members of Petro Aqua who came to Partoș Port from Petroșani, Tîrgu Mureș, Buzău, Timișoara, Cluj Napoca, Bucharest, Deva, Ciugud, and Bulci.
In this naturally beautiful setting, alongside veteran and young rafters from Petro Aqua, memories were shared about the Mureș River, rafting, history, and culture.
The event, organized at the initiative of the project coordinator, was marked by the success earlier in September when “The Craft of Rafting in Romania” was officially recognized as an element of intangible national heritage in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Romania. This recognition followed a unanimous vote by all 21 established specialists/experts of the Commission for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage within the Ministry of Culture (C.N.S.P.C.I.).
Joyful over the successful completion of the “School Raft” after Petro Aqua’s sustained effort since June, it was necessary to test the raft in the very shallow waters of the Mureș River. The lack of rainfall this summer led to record-low water flow levels for the Mureș River this year.
The environment, neglected for decades, has shown us its consequences. Who would have thought that the “Desertification Treaty” signed in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro by nearly all participating countries (183 states represented by presidents, prime ministers, kings, and ministers of the environment), known as the “Earth Summit” held under the UN’s auspices on environmental and development issues, would become so quickly and accurately predictive? Back then, in 1992, it was forecasted that in the coming decades, at the current uncontrolled pace of development, “humanity will die of thirst!”
That prediction, based on deeply scientific arguments, now seems to be coming true. This is why the NGO Petro Aqua, under its well-known motto “Respecting Creation Means Respecting the Creator,” advocates for sustainable development in full harmony with the laws of nature—laws we must respect.
And as providence never fails in such moments, the event took place—like a divine coincidence—on the birthday of the President of Petro Aqua NGO from Petroșani, Mr. Imi Szuhanek, a raft builder for over 65 years, guardian and bearer of both cultural and natural heritage, a devout protector of the environment, and an exceptional living example to be treasured.
Mr. Imre Szuhanek was surprised (thanks to the organizers) with applause at Partoș Port, following the testing of the “School Raft” and the marking of the school route, by our sponsors from Hunedoara County (Petroșani and Deva), who brought a group of children from Secondary School No. 7 in Petroșani—our long-standing partners in rafting activities on the Mureș River. We must also express our gratitude to the generous sponsors who supported this year’s project logistically and financially, even during times of financial hardship and constraints.
From the heartfelt speech of the distinguished Mayor of Alba Iulia, several encouraging ideas emerged regarding continued logistical support for Petro Aqua, just as in previous years, when our environmental projects in Alba Iulia created real opportunities for its citizens. He emphasized the importance of continuing partnerships with us and providing necessary support during the monitoring period (following the September 3rd recognition of “Rafting in Romania” as a national heritage element), to help this living heritage—“The Craft of Rafting”—gain the necessary facilities for Romania to join other countries (Finland, Italy, France, Slovenia, and Switzerland) in embracing UNESCO’s values of humanity.
The mayor paid tribute to the ancestors who initiated and practiced this noble and demanding craft since ancient times. He also shared that the Mureș River had been a playground and leisure spot in his childhood, and now, in adulthood, it has become a priority for developing essential ecological activities on its waters and surrounding areas—an inheritance from Daco-Roman antiquity.
On this occasion, the mayor awarded diplomas to five young rafters from Petro Aqua’s Youth Organization who organized the first “International Wooden Rafting Camp” in Magdeburg in 2024, based on an Erasmus project (the first of its kind globally) funded by the EU in partnership with Germany. The flags of Alba Iulia and Petro Aqua NGO led all project activities and proudly waved along the Elbe River on the log raft built by youth for this grand event. The mayor also recalled the participation of young rafters from Alba Iulia and Petroșani in the second international rafting event held in 2025 in Laspugna, Spain, where Alba Iulia and Romania were on everyone’s lips.
Two Excellence Diplomas were also awarded: to Ms. Ioana Otilia Baskerville – UNESCO expert, and to Prof. Dr. Dorel Marc – member of the National Commission for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (C.N.S.P.C.I.), along with his thanks for their exceptional contributions in designing, preparing, and submitting the official documentation to the Ministry of Culture: the technical sheet, letters of intent/support from over 15 public institutions and prominent figures from Romania and abroad, a photo dossier of rafts built in Romania over the years (including those reconstructed for cultural tourism), a press dossier reflecting interest in preserving and transmitting this living heritage, and a professional documentary film created to support the application (with involvement from the NGO “Timbru de Bucovina” related to rafting). The film includes interviews with Imre Szuhanek, representatives of the three municipalities currently practicing rafting in Romania (Alba Iulia, Ciocănești), and one of the founding members of Petro Aqua NGO from Petroșani.
Prof. Dr. Dorel Marc emphasized the importance of registering “The Craft of Rafting in Romania” in the National Heritage Registry—a goal expressed since 2008 but pursued intensely since February 2024. He stated that this remarkable collaboration between Alba Iulia’s municipal and county administrations, researchers, and Petro Aqua NGO will serve as a model of best practices for future scientific meetings. The first such event is the National Conference of the Romanian Association of Ethnological Sciences, the country’s most representative professional association of ethnologists, ethnographers, anthropologists, folklorists, and historians from universities, the Romanian Academy’s institutes, museums, and cultural centers (scheduled for November this year in Arad). Prof. Marc also expressed his intention, together with expert Ioana Otilia Baskerville, to initiate the nomination dossier for Mr. Imre Szuhanek to receive the “Living Human Treasure” title in the following year—a prestigious award granted annually by C.N.S.P.C.I. to individuals who excel in preserving, creating, and transmitting intangible cultural heritage.
Also on this occasion, alongside the distinguished guests, sponsors, and children from Petroșani who came especially to celebrate Imi Szuhanek, and the project coordinator, the mayor awarded Merit Diplomas to the 11 volunteers of our organization who contributed to registering “The Craft of Rafting in Romania” in the National Inventory of Living Elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
On his birthday, Mayor Gabriel Pleșa presented Mr. Imre Szuhanek, President of Petro Aqua NGO from Petroșani, with a “Diploma of Excellence” for his lifelong dedication to culture and nature, thanking him for his involvement in Romanian rafting and praising his distinguished personality.
The emotional speech that followed, delivered by Mr. Imi Szuhanek, began with our association’s motto: “Respecting Creation Means Respecting the Creator,” and was a heartfelt tribute to all present and especially to the young people who surprised him with this celebration at Partoș Port.
The honoree expressed his hope that the youth who came especially for the event will carry forward this ancestral craft. To the schoolchildren who came with their teachers and sponsors from Petroșani, Mr. Szuhanek offered his heartfelt thanks for attending the blessing of the “School Raft” and for their participation in rafting activities over the years on the Mureș River—efforts that led to the awarding of the most prestigious prize given to an environmental NGO: the “Grand Prize of the Ford Foundation” for ecology and environmental protection projects.
At the end of the gathering, Imi Szuhanek shared with the participants that, together with the Municipality of Șugag and with the support of the Alba County Council, they have initiated steps to expand the local museum by establishing a dedicated section on rafting. This new section will include archival documents, maps, raft models, tools and materials used by rafters, traditional work and festive attire, costumes, specialized equipment, tools historically used in rafting, as well as exhibits, paintings, and photographs from the region.
It was also noted that this development will be based on a thematic museological and museotechnical project, to be drafted by museum specialists. Among those involved will be Prof. Dorel Marc, in his dual role as researcher and Head of the Ethnography Department at the Mureș County Museum, and Ms. Ramona Bălășcuță, manager of the Geological Museum in Bucharest.
This initiative—already underway—is a key element in Romania’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with UNESCO.
A special surprise for the youth and sponsors from Petroșani was the visit to the Museum in Șugag, where they admired the existing exhibits in the presence of the dedicated curator, Vasile Duvlea.
In closing, the press release notes that the President of the International Association of Rafters, Dr. Frank Thiel, recently contacted the UNESCO expert from Poland, the designated rapporteur for “The Craft of Rafting,” as well as representatives of rafting organizations (IATR) from Italy, Finland, and France. The goal is to continue the efforts initiated in those countries and to establish partnerships with Romania in pursuit of the shared objective: recognition of rafting as a cultural value of humanity.
To our international partners and friends, we send our heartfelt message: “Fair winds and following seas!” and assure them of our full support and resources toward this potential success.
NGO Petro Aqua
Photo: Ionel Serb
