HMS Neptune Gets New Captain at Helm

Royal Navy’s HMS Neptune, the shore establishment at HM Naval Base Clyde, has a new Captain at the helm with the recent arrival of Captain Craig Mearns.

A graduate of the University of Aberdeen, Captain Mearns joined the Royal Navy in 1998 as a Supply Officer.

His early appointments featured a mix of sea and shore roles, including time in Rosyth with Commodore Minor War Vessels and a tour of Gibraltar.

Time with HMS Southampton, HMS Grafton and HMS Invincible followed and on promotion to Commander in 2005 he returned to Gibraltar before deploying to Afghanistan in late 2007.

In 2011, Captain Mearns achieved a major ambition when he returned to sea as Commander Logistics of HMS Illustrious.

The following year he had the privilege of being the first Commander Logistics of HMS Queen Elizabeth, doubling up as acting Executive Officer for the first 18 months of the assignment.

Captain Mearns takes over from Captain James Hayes who held the post since November last year.

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Image: Royal Navy/Stephen Johncock