Surprised to have read that he was over the limit by a mile and foriegn !!
He thought the pier was the linkspan to board the ferry, quite an easy mistake.
In the 90,s , a lot of UK drivers would be in the bar prior to boarding the Le Havre, Cherbourg or Ouistreham ferries.
Once on the ferry, hit the bar all night, then drive off the ship the next morning.