Royal Navy landing craft have been banned from carrying non-military passengers on health and safety grounds. The startling ruling by the MCA came while the boats were being used to transport visitors to a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship moored off Bournemouth.

The 15.5m Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) has a top speed of 25 knots and can carry 35 fully equipped troops. A spokesman for the Royal Marines' Association described the MCA ruling as "a triumph of bureaucracy over common sense."