QE2’s master takes over lighthouses

Congratulations to Captain Ian McNaught, former master of Queen Elizabeth 2, who has found a new berth as Deputy Master of Trinity House, which looks after the lighthouses around the British coast.
After 40 years at sea, more than 20 of them with Cunard, he finally gets a home posting.
Captain McNaught, 56, a Wearsider from Washington, was in command of QE2 when it sailed off to retirement in Dubai in November 2009. He hosted a lunch for Prince Philip – who is Master of Trinity House – and made an emotional speech before the ship left Southampton for the last time.
He was also on the bridge when I crossed to New York aboard the liner earlier that year. He’s the slim, good-looking one in the picture above.
Last year he joined the Seabourn fleet – like Cunard, part of the Carnival comglomerate – where he was reunited with a former boss, Pamela Conover.
Trinity House is responsible for all the navigational aids in British waters – as well as lighthouses they include beacons, buoys and modern satellite technology
Captain McNaught said: “Having spent nearly 40 years at sea, my selection as Deputy Master of Trinity House is the pinnacle of a successful career as a Master Mariner. It provides me with an opportunity to lead the principal maritime fraternity and institution in the country for the benefit of Maritime Britain, the shipping industry, and all the seagoing community. There is, I believe, no greater opportunity than this to use all my maritime experience and expertise gathered during my career at sea.”
In the position of Executive Chairman of Trinity House, Captain McNaught will lead the General Lighthouse Authority responsible for the safe navigation of some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and pioneers of research in to new technologies to improve the effectiveness and efficiencies of the aids to navigation it provides. As Deputy Master of the Corporation of Trinity House he will be responsible for the activities of the UK’s largest endowed maritime charity.
Captain McNaught will join Trinity House in September, on the retirement of Rear Admiral Sir Jeremy de Halpert.
He’ll have a new boss as Master of the Corporation by then, as well. The Princess Royal will be taking over the job from her father, who has held the position since 1969.