(Henrik) Kurt Carlsen (20 February 1914 – 7 October 1989) was a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

-born sea-captain who became world-famous in January 1952 when he stayed on his sinking freighter, the ''

Flying Enterprise Flying Enterprise may refer to: * SS Flying Enterprise, SS ''Flying Enterprise'', American ship sunk in 1952 * Flying Enterprise (airline), defunct Danish airline {{Dab ...

'', for 13 days."Henrik K. Carlsen, 75, A Heroic Sea Captain" "New York Times", 9 Oct 198

/ref> It eventually sank less than from safe harbour at

Falmouth, Cornwall Falmouth ( ; kw, Aberfala) is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,797 (2011 census). Etymology The name Falmouth is of English or ...

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, minutes after the Captain was forced to abandon ship. The endeavour was reported around the world, and Carlsen received a

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on January 17, 1952. A few months later Carlsen took command of the ''Flying Enterprise II'', passing up lucrative offers from

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. It is now believed that the ''Flying Enterprise'' was hit not once but twice by a

rogue wave Rogue waves (also known as freak waves, monster waves, episodic waves, killer waves, extreme waves, and abnormal waves) are unusually large, unpredictable, and suddenly appearing surface waves that can be extremely dangerous to ships, even to lar ...

thereby eventually sinking the freighter. Carlsen became a seaman at age 14 and master of his first ship at 22, in the service of the Danish-American company American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines. He was an

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operator with

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W2ZXM. Carlsen, and his ordeal aboard the ''Flying Enterprise'', is the subject of the book ''Simple Courage: a True Story of Peril on the Sea'' by

Frank Delaney Frank Delaney (24 October 1942 – 21 February 2017) was an Irish novelist, journalist and broadcaster. He was the author of ''The New York Times'' best-seller ''Ireland'', Op-Ed Contributor: Holy Rollers and Papal Perfectas">The New York Times ...

. Carlsen received the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Award, authorized by a special act of Congress. On January 10, 2012, the Captain Carlsen Park in Sewaren,(Woodbridge Township) NJ was rededicated to the heroic efforts of Captain Carlsen. A monument was installed at the park which was donated by Shipco Transport Inc. a New Jersey transportation services company. A contingent of Danish visitors were present along with the Captain Carlsen's daughters."Memorial Plaque Unveiled at Captain Carlsen Park" "Woodbridge Township

References

External links

Flying Enterprise
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Carlsen, Henrik Kurt 1914 births 1989 deaths Danish sailors