Women who went from unsung to unstoppable
Seafaring Women Through History by Jo Stanley
Maritime historian Dr Jo Stanley is back with a celebration of trailblazing femalemariners – blending rich historical insight with contemporary perspectives to reflect on what it means to be a woman working at sea.
From cadets to captains, engineers to pilots, shore-based professionals to onboard services crew, Seafaring Women Through History shows maritime women excelling in their careers. Through these stories, Stanley demonstrates why such narratives continue to matter, spotlighting 20th‑ and 21st‑century women across a range of maritime roles. Many of them, the author notes wryly, 'never saw themselves as historic until they met me.'
The book is an updated and expanded version of Stanley’s acclaimed 2016 work From Cabin 'Boys' to Captains, and the new edition underscores the importance of visibility in building a diverse and inclusive maritime industry. It also highlights the role of unions such as Nautilus in campaigning for stronger national and international protections for maritime workers.
Focusing on women seafarers after 1918 – many of them past and present Nautilus members – Stanley brings overlooked contributions to life. Readers meet Barbara Campbell, a legend in sail training; Nina Baker, thought to be the UK’s first female deck cadet; Rachel Dunn, the first woman Admiralty pilot; and radio officer/ETO Fazilette Khan, now best known for founding The Greenseas Trust environmental charity. Shoreside excellence is represented by Nautilus member Christine McLean, whose vessel traffic services expertise keeps ships safe, while Inger Klein Thorhauger exemplifies achievement at the highest levels of the cruise sector.
Engineering pioneer Victoria Drummond also features prominently – a woman whose resilience and wartime heroism continue to inspire, and whose legacy lives on through the Nautilus award named in her honour.
Enhanced with photographs and meticulous references, Seafaring Women Through History is both an engrossing read and a valuable contribution to maritime heritage – one that will resonate with Nautilus members, and anyone committed to the future of the industry.
Seafaring Women Through History
By Jo Stanley
The History Press, £16.99
ISBN 978 18730 50734
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