CAPTAIN Ron Warwick, master of Southampton's Queen Elizabeth 2, has left the liner to prepare to take over command of Cunard's brand new megaliner, Queen Mary 2.

History is repeating itself with the appointment as Captain Warwick is treading in his late father's footsteps, as Commodore Bil Warwick was master of QE2 when she entered service back in 1969.

Captain Warwick will take command of the massive 150,000 ton QM2 prior to the ship arriving in Southampton for the first time at the end of this year.

"I am honoured to have been chosen to command the next flagship of Cunard Line,'' said Captain Warwick. "This is something of a family tradition.''

Captain Warwick joined Cunard in April, 1970 and took command of QE2 in 1990, the first time a father and son had commanded the same ship.

Pam Conover, Cunard's president and chief operating officer, said: "It is only fitting that we entrust the world's grandest and largest passenger vessel to Captain Warwick, a high skilled veteran of Cunard Line.''