BRITANNIA, the ship for Southampton, has set sail on her maiden voyage taking the name of the city around the globe.

Proudly bearing the city's name on her stern, P&O Cruises has chosen to register its brand new, 143,000 ton vessel in its home port of Southampton.

Bucking the trend of most new cruise ships to opt to fly an overseas flag, Britannia left Southampton on Saturday with the traditional British Red Ensign fluttering over her decks.

Speaking on board Britannia before she departed on her first voyage to the Mediterranean, Captain Amir Esmiley, area operations manager for the Southampton based Maritime and Coastguard Agency congratulated P&O Cruises on choosing to register the ship in the city.

Captain Esmiley said : "It is not common nowadays but it is wonderful to see the name of Southampton shining on the stern of Britannia."

During a reception on the ship, the vessel's master, Captain Paul Brown, the city's mayor, Sue Blatchford, and Southampton's port manager, Clive Thomas, exchanged the traditional gifts of plaques.

Port chaplain, Rev. Roger Stone, then conducted a short religious service which included a blessing of Britannia.

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Later as Britannia prepared to depart from the Ocean Terminal the Band of the Royal Marines played on the quayside for the thousands of passengers who lined the ship' railings and the open decks.

Then in a blizzard of red, white, and blur confetti, shot into the air from the dockside, Britannia slipped her mooring ropes, moved out into Southampton Water, and set a course for the Mediterranean.

Britannia will be based in Southampton throughout the summer before repositioning to the Caribbean for the winter months.