Liverpool woman set to break 800-year-old tradition
A woman from Liverpool is set to break an 800-year-old tradition by hoping to be the first female captain of the Mersey Ferry.
Ellie Vondy, 30, a qualified diver and marine biologist, has started a three-year apprenticeship course which could lead to her becoming skipper of Mersey Ferries’ Royal Iris vessel, which would be the first time in its almost 800 year history.
Born in Anfield, Ms Vondy, told the BBC: “It’s sad that no women have occupied this space before.”
She continued by describing her apprenticeship as a “step in the right direction”.
Crossings over the River Merseyside were started by Benedictine Monks in 1150 AD and since then, those captaining the boats have exclusively been men.
However, Ms Vondy is hoping to change this and is currently in the training phase of her apprenticeship, which is split between theory and hands-on work on the vessel.
The apprentice said: “We also learn sea survival, where we had to basically jump from a height into the water which was great.
“It feels amazing to be honest and something completely new.”
Ms Vondy has her sights set on becoming the first female captain of the Mersey Ferry
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Once she completes her apprenticeship, Ms Vondy will have to be awarded several certifications before she can man the Royal Iris.
She will serve as Officer of the Watch (Near Coastal), working as First Mate, before completing a further year’s training to gain her captain’s licence.
Ms Vondy is working towards the top job alongside fellow marine apprentices Chris Oulton and Leah Rogers.
She said, speaking to Liverpool World: “I’m a Liverpool girl and the ferry is part of the city’s heartbeat so if I am the first woman to captain the Mersey Ferry, I just hope I do women justice.”
Ms Vondy has been learning the ropes
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Phillip Rodgers, Ms Vondy’s colleague on-board the boat, said: “I’ve been here six years now and she’s the first female captain – it’s quite refreshing.
“She has a good knowledge of the river and the surrounding areas, and the vessel itself.”
Steve Rotherham, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City region, said that despite women being more than capable of filling the role, it historically hasn’t been the most attractive.
He said: “This is about breaking down those barriers and smashing those glass ceilings, getting people to do non-traditional roles.”
The ferry service transports passengers between Liverpool to the east and Birkenhead and Wallasey on the Wirral Peninsula to the west.
Frequented by visitors and locals for centuries, the waterway has a rich history.
From its earliest days, the Mersey ferry has been shaped by danger, disorder and determination.
Medieval court records detail murder, assault and unlicensed boats on the river, while royal licences issued by figures such as Edward, the Black Prince, and later seized by the Crown under Henry VIII show just how valuable control of the crossing was.
Over centuries, the ferries evolved from fragile rowing boats to sail-powered vessels, and later to steamships that helped fuel the explosive growth of Liverpool and Birkenhead.
They carried workers, traders and goods long before tunnels and railways existed, becoming the river’s lifeline.
Against that backdrop, the appointment of the first woman to captain a Mersey Ferry is more than a personal milestone for Ms Vondy.
It marks the latest chapter in an 800-year-story of progress on one of Britain’s most historic waterways.
