Arne Rinnan

Arne Rinnan is known as the captain of the MS 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 stranded boat about 75 nautical miles north of Christmas Island.

He has since received the Nansen Refugee Award for 2002 from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for his efforts to follow international principles for saving people in distress at sea, despite repeated threats of imprisonment and confiscation of the ship from the Australian government if he let the refugees off on Australian soil.

Arne Rinnan retired from his position as captain in late 2001.

Quote

• "Saving lives at sea must alway rank ahead of politics"

See also: MS Tampa