Arne Rinnan

[2][3] On 26 August 2001, the MV Tampa was on its way from Fremantle in Australia to Singapore, when the Australian Maritime Safety Authority requested the crew to go to the aid of The Palapa, a 25-meter vessel in distress that was transporting 433 refugees.

[3][4] Captain Rinnan directed his ship towards the nearest port, in Indonesia, but some refugees broke into the bridge and forced him to proceed to Christmas Island in Australian waters.

[3] Australian armed forces boarded the vessel and demanded a change of course towards international waters, but Rinnan refused, citing the health needs of the refugees.

[3] Australian Prime Minister John Howard robustly rejected the request, but proposed a compromise that saw the refugees being transported to Nauru, via Papua New Guinea.

[4] In 2001, Rinnan was made a knight of the 1st class of Royal Norwegian Order of Merit and was named Captain of the Year by the British Nautical Institute and Lloyds' List shipping journal.