Captain Charles Nicholas BatesFirst command of QE2: 18 September 2004
Last command of QE2: 17 November 2006
Thanks to Nick Bates for providing this photo
Follow link to comment or to contribute informationBorn: Ardglass, Ireland
Captain Bates worked with Cunard for 45 years starting his career with Port Line a cargo subsidiary of Cunard
Educated at Belfast Nautical College and Leith Nautical College
1964-65 Pre-sea Nautical College in Belfast where he ended the year as top student
Navy Career1965: Joined Port Line as an apprentice
1970: Studied at Belfast Nautical College where he gained his 2nd Mates Ticket
1972: Gained Mates Ticket at Leith Nautical College
1975: Obtained Masters Certificate at Leith Nautical College at the age of 27
1975: Offered post as 2nd Officer onboard QE2. A position he at first refused but accepted on the 2nd request. This was the start of a successful career with Cunard where Captain Bates slowly progressed up the career path being transferred to both the Cunard Princess and Cunard Countess on various occasions.
1995: Given command of Cunard Princess to provide cover while her Captain was on compassionate leave
1996: Captain onboard Cunard Countess for a short time
1999: Given his first command - Crown Dynasty
2000: Assumed command of Sea Goddess I
2001: Captain of Caronia for 3 years
2004: Master of QE2
2006-2008: Captain of both Saphire Princess and Diamond Princess
2008: Master of Queen Mary
2010: Retired August 2010
Captain Bates now lives wife his wife in Ratho, a village outside Edinburgh. In retirement he is a popular after dinner speaker, he has taken up art, and is working for a local charity The Seagull Trust, offering free canal cruising for people with special needs. See below STV News August 2012 for more on his work with the Seagull Trust.
Captain Nick Bates After Dinner Speaker http://www.captainnickbates.com/Author of “With a pinch of salt” a collection of nautical expressions and short stories
http://www.captainnickbates.com/with-a-pinch-of-salt.htmlThank-you to Captain Bates for providing information so that we could compile this profileMedia and Information Sources:Beyond Ships – A Conversation with Nick Bates by Richard H Wagner*
http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-art-Bates.htmlCunard: Peter Shanks Blog on Nick Bates retirement**
http://wearecunard.com/2010/09/president’s-blog-–-farewell-to-captain-bates/
Cunard: QM2’s company pay tribute to Nick Bates
http://wearecunard.com/2010/10/queen-mary-2-ship’s-company-pay-tribute-to-captain-bates/
STV News 23 August 2012 – Trading the high seas and the QE2 for a barge on the Union Canal
http://news.stv.tv/east-central/186709-trading-the-qe2-and-the-high-seas-for-a-barge-on-the-union-canal/Linlithgow Gazette : Nick steers wedding team
http://www.linlithgowgazette.co.uk/news/local-news/nick-steers-wedding-team-1-3303710The QE2 Story Discussion Topics Featuring Captain Nick BatesNick Bates
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,333.0.html Back to list of QE2 Masters
