A SOUTHAMPTON seafarer who has worked his way through the ranks from the lowest rung of deck cadet right up to captain is to be the master of the city's next new luxury superliner, the 85,000 ton cruise ship Arcadia.

Steve Burgoine, at present in command of the 77,000 ton Oceana, now operating in and out of the city docks, will be the first captain of Arcadia when the P&O Cruises' vessel enters service in Southampton on April 13, 2005.

This is not the first time that Captain Burgoine, one of the shipping industry's most experienced and respected masters, has been given the responsibility of bringing a new ship into service as he was in command of the company's Southampton based Aurora at the start of her career in May, 2000.

Today's announcement of his appointment comes at the same time as Arcadia is due to undergo a key stage in its construction programme at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy where the ship is being built.

In a carefully planned operation Arcadia is set to float for the first time as the ship is moved from the building dock to a nearby fitting-out basin to allow the next phase of the highly complex fabrication schedule to begin.

Born in 1948, Captain Burgoine attended the Thames Nautical Training College and joined P&O Orient Line as a deck cadet in 1966 and served on cargo and passenger ships until, in 1972, he came ashore to study at Cardiff University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in maritime studies.

He has served through all ranks on a variety of P&O and Princess Cruises' ships, including the original Oriana and Southampton's legendary Canberra, obtaining his master's certificate in 1977 and being promoted to deputy captain in 1991. His first command came on Pacific Princess in 1996 and went on to be captain on the former city based cruise ship, Victoria as well as Island Princess.

No stranger to Southampton Water, Captain Burgoine served for a short period as master of the present Oriana before he joined the newbuild team on Aurora.