ONE of Southampton's most respected and experienced sea captains has been appointed as the first master of Cunard's brand new ocean liner, Queen Victoria.

Captain Paul Wright, pictured, who has served with Cunard for 26 years, will be in command of the ship when she enters Southampton docks on her maiden call next year.

He first went to sea as a cadet with Shell tankers and then moved to passenger ships in 1969 when he joined Canadian Pacific.

Captain Wright's first appointment with Cunard was to Cunard Countess, since when he has served on Cunard Princess, Sagafjord and Cunard Dynasty.

In 1999, the 58-year-old master was promoted to captain of Queen Elizabeth 2 where he served until the construction of Queen Mary 2.

He oversaw the construction of QM2 in France prior to commission, and in 2004 was appointed the liner's captain, alternating with the recently retired Commodore Ron Warwick.

Captain Wright said: "I fully expect that bringing Queen Victoria into Southampton for the first time will be a memorable event.

"It will be equally memorable for those who turn out to greet us as nothing stirs the imagination quite so much as a new Cunarder arriving in port.''