Obituary Information for Alison Rawlinson:Captain Alison Rawlinson of Great Yarmouth harbour Has Passed Away
The Great Yarmouth harbour community is mourning the loss of a respected and trailblazing mariner, Captain Alison Rawlinson, who passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, 31st January 2026, aged 63.
A familiar and highly skilled presence for nearly three decades, Captain Rawlinson was a frequent visitor to the port, forging a remarkable career in the offshore sector. She is believed to have been one of the first, if not *the* first, female Masters of an offshore supply vessel, taking command of the Oil Onyx in Great Yarmouth in May 1999. She later served as Master on the Far Grimshader for many years, and with companies such as Farstad and Solstad until her retirement in 2019.
The Great Yarmouth Harbour Pilots remember her as a supremely knowledgeable professional with a good sense of humour, who “always kept us on our toes.” She initially sailed as Chief Officer under one of the port’s now-retired pilots, highlighting her deep-rooted connection to the local maritime fraternity.
Her funeral will be held at Skipton Crematorium on Monday, 23rd February. The family has requested family flowers only, but donations in her memory are welcomed for Sue Ryder Manorlands and The Mission to Seafarers, reflecting her caring spirit and lifelong dedication to the sea. Captain Rawlinson’s legacy as a pioneer and a consummate seafarer will be fondly remembered by all who worked with her.
