Arne Rinnan
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Arne Rinnan is known as the captain of the MV Tampa, owned by Norwegian shipping line Wallenius Wilhelmsen. On August 21, 2001, his ship rescued 438 refugees, mainly from then Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, from a drifting boat about 75 nautical miles north of Christmas Island.
The Nansen Refugee Award for 2002 was awarded to the crew of the Tampa by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for their efforts to follow international principles of saving people in distress at sea, despite repeated threats of imprisonment and confiscation of the ship from the Australian government if the refugees be let off on Australian soil. To emphasize these threats, the government had the Tampa intercepted by ships of the Australian Navy.
Rinnan has received other awards, including the Medal of Honour from the King of Norway, the inaugural Tampa Award from the Australian organisation Rural Australians for Refugees, the AFRAS Gold Medal from the Association for Rescue at Sea and he was named Captain of the Year 2001 by the Nautical Institute and shipping journal Lloyds List.
Arne Rinnan retired from his position as captain in late 2001. He lives with his family in the small inland city of Kongsberg.
Quote
- "Saving lives at sea must always rank ahead of politics"