20/05/2026
Today we celebrate 56 years of the ship Ulla Rinman. On this occasion, we want to share the story behind the name of a ship that over the decades has saved lives, supported livelihoods, created lasting memories, and continues to enable scientists from around the world to deepen our understanding of the Arctic ocean and the world around us.
For many of us, Ulla Rinman has also become a reliable companion and a home away from home — and we look forward to many more years ahead together.
We are very grateful to Annika Tuneld-Hompesch, the great-granddaughter of Ulla Rinman, for sharing the following letter with us and allowing us to tell the story behind the ship’s name.
"ULLA RINMAN - the story behind the name
It all started with a message sent in a bottle in 1911, a year of severe autumn storms along the Swedish coastline. At the island of Öland, a glass bottle with some money and a letter was found during one of these storms. It had been tossed in the ocean from a sinking ship by a sailor in despair as a last message to his wife.
Living in the archipelago and with family connections in shipping as well as in ship journalism, Mrs Ulla Rinman felt that something had to be done – sea rescuing in Sweden must be improved and developed. On November 7th the same year Ulla started an association called “The Lifebuoy” (in Swedish “Livbojen”) with the sole purpose of raising money for a more effective sea rescuing. With her contacts in Gothenburg’s business life and
culture elite, Ulla was able to engage the city and bring attention to many successful charity events. Gathering money to improve and modernize sea rescuing became her lifegoal.
With Ulla’s endless energy, The Lifebuoy thrived and grew into many local departments over the years. In 1930, The Swedish American Line lend the Atlantic Ocean Liner “Kungsholm” to The Lifebuoy to be used for a big charity party. The event itself and the
amount of money donated was the talk of the town for a long time afterwards.
During the second world war, money raised by The Lifebuoy was also used to ease the burden of women left behind when their husbands had to fight at sea. As an extended engagement it happened that members of The Lifebuoy adopted children from families who had lost fathers and providers on the ocean.
In 1970, a new rescue ship was delivered. On May 20th she was baptized surrounded by an excited audience and named “Ulla Rinman”. She was later located on the island of Rörö outside Gothenburg and served The Swedish Maritime Rescue Society for many years. The Lifebuoy continued to be a corner stone in building and developing sea rescuing in Sweden. In 1979, the Swedish Royal Queen – Silvia, became an honorary member and the association’s protector.
On November 7th, 2023, exactly 112 years after The Lifebuoy’s first meeting, the very last meeting took place. It was a sad day but a necessary move to end the association. It had now played out its role as an economic contributor to The Swedish Maritime Rescue Society which today stands strong on its own in the forefront of sea rescuing.
If my great grandmother Ulla could see that what she started so long ago became something huge, I’m sure she would be very proud. I grew up with The Lifebuoy and being in contact with you, the current owners of the ship Ulla Rinman (who’s baptizing I remember in detail even though I was only two years old at the time) means so much to me. I wish you all many wonderful days on the ocean with the boat that was basically a member of my family for a long, long time.
Annika Tuneld-Hompesch"
The images show among other the ship’s baptism day, Ulla Rinman herself, and us - Mana and Jan Walther, who own and operate the vessel today and continue to call her home.
If you have your own memories, stories, or moments connected to the ship Ulla Rinman, we would love for you to share them with us in the comments.
