Refugee rescue crew honoured

The crew and owners of a Norwegian freighter that staged a daring high seas rescue of 438 asylum seekers last year were presented the Nansen Refugee Prize today as part of events marking World Refugee Day.

The €108,000 award from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees also noted the courage and determination of the 27 members of the Tampa crew in an 11 day standoff with Australia over landing mostly Afghan refugees on its soil.

The presentation was made in Oslo as a high point in international events to raise awareness about the plight of displaced people.

June 20 was designated Refugee Day permanently by the UN general assembly last year.

The freighter was diverted to rescue the 438 from a sinking ferry in the Indian Ocean last August, even though the ship and crew did not have the capacity to care for so many people.

The award was presented by UNHCR chief Ruud Lubbers and Norway’s Queen Sonja, who won the 1982 Nansen Prize as crown princess for promoting refugees aid.

‘‘All of the risks involved did not deter them from going out of their way to help,’’ Lubbers said.