BEMBRIDGE RNLI's duty coxswain, Bowy White, has told the County Press about the role his crew played in yesterday's drama involving the oil tanker Nave Andromeda.

Last night (Sunday), seven people were detained after elite SBS soldiers boarded the tanker off the Isle of Wight, following reports its crew had been threatened by stowaways.

Among those to be called to the scene was Bembridge RNLI ­— the only crew from the Island to receive a callout.

Bembridge RNLI crew tasked to the incident comprised James Pink, Martin Norman, Martin Keyworth, John Attrill, Paul Butler and Ollie Joy.

The team was paged earlier in the day for an immediate readiness, and launched at 4.45pm, rendezvousing with police vessels off Whitecliff Bay.

Five miles north of the tanker, the crew received a phone call to say what time the operation would commence, at which point the crew were asked stand off two miles of the vessel.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Nave Andromeda.

Read more: Isle of Wight oil tanker stowaways: what happened explained

Bowy was unable to discuss the details of the SBS operation, but spoke of his crew's involvement.

"We were told what time the hit was going to be, and to stay out of the way," - Bembridge RNLI duty coxswain Bowy White.

"When it was all kicking off we had to keep our distance but get as close as we could in case we had to pick up any casualties out of the water.

"They could have jumped off, panicked ­— you don't know what could have happened.

"The crew are all trained in casualty care.

"The weather was pretty rubbish, it was hard to see through the rain, but we watched it all unfold.

"It was an unusual experience ­— you're searching for kayakers one day, then you're looking at a 42,000- ton tanker the next. It's a bit diverse.

"I never thought I'd experience pirates, but here we are.

"It's the biggest incident we've been involved in, in terms of national security.

"We didn't know if they were armed, or how the SBS were going to take over the ship ­— if there was going to be gunfire, flashbangs?

"It was when you looked at your phone, and you saw it all over Twitter and Sky News, that you realised just how big an incident it was."

The team stood down at 9.15pm.