Tampa captain criticises Australian authorities

The captain of the Norwegian cargo ship, who was forbidden from landing in Australia with the 400 refugees he rescued, says he was “surprised and disappointed” by Australia’s handling of the crisis.

The Tampa’s captain, Arne Rinnan, came to the rescue of over 400 Afghan refugees when he spotted their sinking ferry in the Pacific Ocean last month.

He says Australian authorities allowed him to make the rescue, only to refuse him entry to Australia because the refugees were on board.

Captain Rinnan says that the refugees behaved in a threatening manner once on board and that the situation deteriorated rapidly over the time the Tampa was stranded at sea near Christmas Island.

He criticised Australia for sending medical supplies yet refusing him permission to dock on dry land.