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Dear Sir,
Re: Lloyd's List Salute to Maritime Excellence Awards 2001
Nomination Category: LL & NI SHIPMASTER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Nominee : CAPTAIN ARNE FRODE RINNAN - MASTER M.V. "TAMPA"
The 35 metres long wooden vessel PALAPA 1heading for Australia got into difficulty on Sunday evening 26 August 2001 whilst still in Indonesian Territorial Waters. The Indonesian Coast Guard alerted RCC Canberra who requested ships in the vicinity to assist. TAMPAen route from Fremantle to Singapore responded and was guided to the position of the sinking PALAPA 1 by an Australian maritime reconnaissance airplane. Having successfully accomplished the rescue operation TAMPAwith a crew of only 27 now counted 438 persons rescued - 43 children, 26 women (2 pregnant) and 369 men from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Having resumed his voyage the Captain was then approached by a group of refugees who stated they would take drastic action (by all jumping overboard) if the vessel made any attempt to take them back to Indonesia. The Captain then ordered TAMPAto deviate to the nearest Port of Refuge (Safe Haven) being Christmas Island (Australia). TAMPAcalled Christmas Island for medical assistance several times sending Pan-Pan signal. This produced no result so the Captain then sent a MAYDAYsignal and entered Australia Territorial Waters on Wednesday 29 August stopping the ship 4 nautical miles off the coast of Christmas Island. TAMPA was then boarded by 35 Australian SAS Commandos.
Captain Arne Rinnanis now approaching his 61stbirthday. His seagoing career with theWilhelm Wilhelmsen group of Companies spans some 43 years of which the last 23 have been in Command. He is highly respected, conscientious and dedicated professional Shipmaster with a high regard for the humanities and for the welfare of all those under his Command. His actions throughout were in the very best traditions of the Seafaring Profession and in strict compliance with UNCLOS and the IMO Conventions SAR and SOLAS. He and his Officers were able to recognise and to cope courageously and admirably with the desperation of the Refugees and with the SAS Commando Force sent onboard by the Australians.
The panel of Judges is invited to consider this nomination and to note also the attached documents submitted in support from (a) Jens Stoltenberg the Prime Minister of Norway (b) Tore Gjestrum the Assistance Director of NMOA and (c) Wilhelm Wilhemlsen President of Shipping Company.
Captain Arne Rinnan's most exceptional servicehas already been admirably documented in Lloyds's List and in Fairplay. He is indeed a most worthy candidate for this Very First Shipmaster of the Year Awardand I commend him to you. I enclose the Awards Nomination Form.
Yours sincerely.
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