HIS ROYAL Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has officially renamed Southampton University's Oceanography Centre.

The duke - who originally opened the centre back in 1996 - renamed the centre the National Oceanography Centre to reflect its growing importance as Britain's leading teaching and research institution for studying the sea.

The duke was joined by the cream of Southampton's scientific community at the Royal Academy of Engineering's annual summer get-together where he was guest of honour.

He unveiled a plaque at the centre which is located at Southampton's East Docks before being taken on a tour of its facilities.

The centre is one of the world's largest institutions devoted to research, teaching and technological developments in ocean and earth science.

It is a joint partnership between the University of Southampton and the Natural Environmental Research Council.

Southampton University Vice Chancellor Professor Bill Wakeham said: "I am delighted that His Royal Highness is able to perform the renaming ceremony during his visit to Southampton.

"Having officially opened the centre nearly ten years ago, it is particularly appropriate that he should be here to officiate at its renaming and see how the centre has progressed in the intervening years."

He added: "It is a great honour to welcome the Duke of Edinburgh, together with Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering and their guests to the University of Southampton.

"I hope that during their visit they will enjoy the opportunity of visiting our exhibition of some of the wide range of cutting-edge engineering research and of teaching that is undertaken in Southampton."