Pete Holder: Australian-born skipper of the Diamantina
Mr Lee: first mate on the Diamantina
Julianne Balwyn: daughter of English nobility, Diamantina crew member
Fifi Lamont: ship’s cook on the Diamantina
Sergeant Narayan Shah: formerly of Her Majesty’s Royal Gurkha Regiment
Corporal Birendra: formerly of Her Majesty’s Royal Gurkha Regiment
Private Thapa: formerly of Her Majesty’s Royal Gurkha Regiment
Private Subba: formerly of Her Majesty’s Royal Gurkha Regiment
Private Sharma: formerly of Her Majesty’s Royal Gurkha Regiment
Miguel Pieraro: contracted beef hauler for McDonald’s
Rhino Ross: former CPO, United States Coast Guard
Dietmar Dietz: navigator
Henry Cesky: Brooklyn-based construction magnate
Larry Zood: internet pornographer
Phoebe St John: survivor, heiress, from Boston
Jason St John: survivor, heir, from Boston
Denby Moorhouse: Basel-based merchant banker
Marc Unwin: oil broker
Lars Havel: Norwegian ship’s mate
Mariela Pieraro: Miguel’s wife
Pankesh Daxa: Sri Lankan chief engineer, Aussie Rules
Rohan van der Meuwe: Dutch ship’s engineer, Aussie Rules
Urvan Plost: Dutch ship’s engineer, Aussie Rules