Henrik Kurt Carlsen (d. 7 October 1989) was a Danish-born sea-captain who became world-famous in January 1952 when he stayed on his sinking freighter, the Flying Enterprise , for 13 days. It eventually sank less than 60km from safe harbour at Falmouth, minutes after the Captain was forced to abandon ship.

The endeavour was reported around the world and Carlsen received a ticker-tape parade in New York City on 1952 January 17.

Karlsen became a seaman at age 14, and Master of his first ship at 32 (in the service of the Danish-American company Isbrandtsen).

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