Commodore Stephen Moorhouse has taken over command of the Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales which is being built in Scotland.
The commodore, stepping up to the helm of one of the two biggest warships built for the Royal Navy, will assume the local rank of captain while in command, just as his counterpart Commodore Jerry Kyd did on board the first of the navy’s new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Commodore Stephen Moorhouse has taken command of the UK's second aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. In Royal Navy tradition he will assume the rank of Captain and will be the first sea going Captain of the ship which is expected to sail in 2019 @HMSPWLS https://t.co/jsWkcc9eEw pic.twitter.com/sN5lUqPWE5
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) September 11, 2018
In his role rank, Captain Moorhouse will be the first sea-going captain of HMS Prince of Wales, which is expected to leave Rosyth in late 2019 for contractor sea trials.
“I am delighted to assume command of HMS Prince of Wales at this exciting time as we prepare the ship to enter service. She will operate of the centre of a Maritime Task Group that will support the UK’s diverse diplomatic, security and economic interests around the globe,” Captain Moorhouse said.
The 65,000-ton ship is being fitted out in Rosyth while her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth is visiting the United States for the first time.