A FERRY crossing destined for Poole featured a dramatic spectacle as SBS crews boarded the commercial vessel.

The SBS crews were carrying out a training exercise, practicing their ability to board a ship from RIBs.

Brittany Ferries’ MV Barfleur was travelling to Dorset from Cherbourg on Tuesday evening.

Around half a dozen RIBs met the Barfleur two hours out from Poole, before each approaching the ship as it travelled at normal cruising speed.

From there, the crews used a long pole with a grappling iron attached to hook wire ladders over the side rail of the ship.

Paul Timlett, who was on the Barfleur returning from a holiday in France, witnessed the exercise which lasted around 45 minutes.

“It looked really hard work to climb up the wire ladders,” Mr Timlett said.

“The RIBs were bouncing wildly in the wash of the much bigger ship.

“The soldiers looked exhausted as they climbed over the rail onto the car deck at the stern.

“It must have been like climbing the side of an office block in a hurricane.

“The experience was amazing and as a spectator it’s quite encouraging to see the capabilities of the soldiers.”

After completing the exercise and returning to the RIBs, the crews received a great round of applause and waved to the crowd of spectators as they peeled away from the ship.

Passengers on the ferry were made aware of the plans to carry out the exercise to avoid any unnecessary worries or concerns.

“When we boarded at Cherbourg they handed out letters saying the exercise was going to happen and not to be alarmed,” Mr Timlett added.

“We were a couple of hours from Poole and people seemed to have forgotten about it.

“I went up to the seventh deck and you could see the SBS crews alongside the ship.

“They came so close they must have been almost touching and at this point you lost sight of them.

“People were climbing up and leaning over the rails. I was concerned someone was going to fall into the water.”