Alison Rawlinson, who was a ship master with Great Yarmouth-based Gardline, passed away peacefully at home in late January.

She was one of the first female ship masters of an offshore supply vessel and enjoyed an extraordinary life in a male-dominated industry as a captain.

Alison was one of the first female captains of an offshore supply vessel. (Image: Simon Rawlinson)

Her husband Simon Rawlinson, who worked as an engineer onboard ships and became Alison's soulmate, said: "She was amazing.

"She was kind, had a good sense of humour. She was without doubt my best friend.

"She just loved it. She always knew she wanted to be a captain. There were some people that didn't appreciate females at sea but she wanted to achieve that.

Alison studying the maps in her shipping days. (Image: Simon Rawlinson)

"I think it was a challenge. She was proud of the fact that even though she had these setbacks she could rise above these idiots and she could prove them wrong."

Born in the village of Blacko in Lancashire, she was inspired by the stories of her father David who served in the Royal Navy.

Alison was born and grew up in Lancashire. (Image: Simon Rawlinson)

Upon leaving school at 16, she signed on as an apprentice with BP Tankers as a deck officer cadet.

She joined her first ship in October 1978 in Cape Town, South Africa, and later met Simon on a ship called British Pride.

Simon and Alison on their wedding day in 1982. (Image: Simon Rawlinson)

She spent several years working in the offshore sector, with much of her time spent working from Great Yarmouth in the mid to late 1980s.

She became one of the first female masters of an offshore supply vessel and joined the Oil Onyx in Great Yarmouth as captain in 1999.

She had sailed as chief officer under a former Great Yarmouth Harbour Pilot when she was a ship master with Gardline and retired from the maritime industry in 2019.

Alison and Simon met on a ship called British Pride and then became soulmates for life. (Image: Simon Rawlinson)

Mr Rawlinson added: "She enjoyed her time in Yarmouth. She could sail any ship anywhere in the world.

"She was just a kind, funny and lovely woman. A special woman."

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