The unexpected can often make an exercise more real than anyone intended. This is how Ramsgate lifeboatmen passed an extra test of skill with flying colours. Photographs are by courtesy of Jim Byrne, the story is told by Georgette Purches.WHAT is BELIEVED TO BE the first ever evacuation exercise from a cross-channel ferry in British waters was held on Monday January 13, 1986. 98 'passengers', Royal Marines and WRNS from RM Depot Deal, were evacuated from the Sally Line ferry The Viking. Two helicopters from 22 Squadron RAF Mansion, lifeboats from Sheerness, Margate and Ramsgate worked together to evacuate the 'survivors'.

The exercise took two hours to complete because each rescue phase was carefully timed and monitored by the directing staff. The ship's lifeboats were not used and the car deck was out of action because of a 'fire'. The only escape was down via the ship's ladders or up by winch into a helicopter.

A moment of real emergency arose when a liferaft with 22 'passengers' on board, deflated. The liferaft, on loan from the Ministry of Defence to save the ferry the cost of repacking their own, was moored by a painter to the side of the ferry. This painter came under considerable strain and it appears that one of the 'survivors' tugged too hard and a piece of the side of the liferaft became detached. This deflated the top half of the liferaft and Ramsgate's 44ft Waveney class lifeboat came alongside immediately to take the occupants aboard (photo 1). In the process, the liferaft's bottom section was also punctured, possibly against theside of the ferry, which turned the evacuation from a precaution into an urgent necessity.

Ramsgate's coxswain showed skilful seamanship by preventing his stern from sandwiching the liferaft during the transfer. Survivors, including one Wren, were hauled over the stern of the lifeboat (photo 2). Realising that all speed was required, Ramsgate's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat drove in and helped haul survivors aboard (photo 3). The liferaft was emptied in a minute and a half with, as Commander George Cooper, deputy chief of operations for the RNLI who was conducting the exercise, said: 'no one even getting their feet wet' (photo 4).

The exercise was acclaimed as a great success when members of the RNLI, Royal Marines, RAF, HM Coastguard, Sally Line and the Department of Trade met to discuss their findings four days later. Six weeks later a working party met to produce a report and recommendations.

This report was presented to the UK Government Search and Rescue Committee on April 29, 1986..