Seal boards Royal Navy ship on exercise off Carnoustie

The seal sat on the landing dock of HMS Bulwark for about half an hour before returning to the North Sea

A seal has boarded a Royal Navy amphibious-assault ship as it was about to carry out military exercises near Carnoustie.

HMS Bulwark was making preparations for the multinational training exercise Joint Warrior when the seal swam up the ship's landing dock.

The animal sat and watched the crew for about half an hour.

It was only when an officer approached the seal that it swam away.

Air Aviation Officer, Lt Sarah Filshie, said: "It's rather unusual to have a seal actually come on board, but he seemed very inquisitive and interested in what we were up to.

"He stayed for about half-an-hour before one of the other officers approached him to see if he needed any help getting back into the water, and then he just turned around and went back out again."