During 2020 all NCI stations closed for two months at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. On re-opening most stations were single-manned for the rest of the year.
Glossary of Terms| Incident No. | Date of Incident | Station Name | Incident Summary | Initiated by | Lifeboat involved | MCA | MCA No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37074 | 21/01/2021 | NCI Hengistbury Head | Alerted CG of windsurfer in possible difficulty. MoPs also reported him. Target lost to sight but reported safe on beach. LB tasked but not launched. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 1335 |
| 37077 | 17/01/2021 | NCI Boscastle | CG requested current weather conditions during recovery of missing person. Monitored his recovery by CRT, Air ambulances and ILB. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 1069 |
| 37061 | 16/01/2021 | NCI Exmouth | CG requested any sighting of walkers reported stranded in mud. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 1004 |
| 37062 | 16/01/2021 | NCI Exmouth | CG requested any sighting of surfers reportedly 'in difficulty'. Target sighted and reported as safe and not in difficulty. FAWGI | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 1005 |
| 37057 | 08/01/2021 | NCI Gwennap Head | Monitored and reported to CG on safe recovery by AWLB of FV caught in own nets. No casualties. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 0458 |
| 37018 | 06/01/2021 | NCI Fleetwood | Local CG requested any sighting of photographer in danger from tide but nothing visible from Lookout. ILB attended and returned him safely to shore having been cut off by rising tide. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 0360 |
| 37010 | 05/01/2021 | NCI Needles | CG requested weather update or sighting of swimmer reported 'in difficulty'. Conditions reported as 'fair' but no sightings. FAWGI? nfa | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 0301 |
| 36988 | 04/01/2021 | NCI Mablethorpe | Reported to CG large debris on beach. CRT attended and found two drums lashed together. ELDC requested to remove them. | NCI | No | Yes | 0233 |
| 36978 | 02/01/2021 | NCI Hornsea | Reported concern over lone fisherman at risk from rising tide and darkness. CRT and LB deployed but no sighting. Assumed to have left beach safely nfa | NCI | Yes | Yes | 0109 |
| 36989 | 02/01/2021 | NCI Exmouth | Reported to CG large flotsam as danger to shipping. CG issued navigation warning. | NCI | No | Yes | 86 |
| 36958 | 02/01/2021 | NCI Porthcawl | Reported to CG sighting of two MoP apparently cut off by rising tide trying to climb back. Two ILB and CRT attended until all (fishermen) safely on land.. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 0110 |
| 36959 | 02/01/2021 | NCI Hengistbury Head | Reported to CG small boat aground on falling tide. ILB launched and directed to casualties to bring it back safely to shore. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 0108 |
| 36940 | 31/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | Reported to CG a large tree trunk adrift in channel as a hazard to shipping. Monitored but NFA taken. | NCI | No | Yes | 40650 |
| 36945 | 31/12/2020 | NCI Torbay | CG requested any visual on disabled PWC. Target sighted and monitored until towed in by local craft. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 40558 |
| 36946 | 31/12/2020 | NCI Newhaven | Remained on watch having overheard MV reporting to CG as out of fuel close to ferry terminal. Monitored casualty until towed in by AWLB then stood down. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 40661 |
| 36924 | 30/12/2020 | NCI Hengistbury Head | VHF call re grounded yacht.Advised HMCG who had received calls. Casualty told HMCG they'd wait for high tide. NCI requested to keep eyes on. Next day HMCG addvised that casualty refloated safely. | NCI | No | Yes | 040560 |
| 36898 | 29/12/2020 | NCI Teignmouth | Advised CG of considerable marine debris post Storm Bella as danger to shipping. CRT attended to monitor. nfa | NCI | No | Yes | 40401 |
| 36892 | 28/12/2020 | NCI Great Orme | Reported large marine debris to CG. Monitored until it grounded on sandbank. nfa | NCI | No | Yes | 40416 |
| 36893 | 28/12/2020 | NCI Great Orme | Sighted walker on sandbank in deteriorating weather. Alerted by siren and monitored until off beach. nfa | NCI | No | Yes | 40434 |
| 36900 | 28/12/2020 | NCI Torbay | Received report of kite surfer reportedly 'in difficulty'. Target not sighted. nfa | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 40422 |
| 36899 | 28/12/2020 | NCI Torbay | Received report of two MoP on cliffs in poor weather. Targets not visible from Station. nfa | NCI | No | Yes | 40420 |
| 36879 | 26/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | Report of 'hazard to shipping' passed to CG and Harbourmaster. Latter arranged its removal. | NCI | No | Yes | 40256 |
| 36870 | 24/12/2020 | NCI Wells-next-the-Sea | Monitored and reported downed windsurfer. Updated as another windsurfer assisted recovery. ILB also attended but medical help refused. | NCI | Yes | Yes | n/k |
| 36868 | 24/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | Relayed to CG report of downed kitesurfer. ILB attended and casualty recovered safely to shore. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 40145 |
| 36867 | 24/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | Relayed to CG report of dog in trouble in sea. CRT and surf rescue team attended to recover safely to land. | NCI | No | Yes | n/k |
| 36882 | 24/12/2020 | NCI Penzance | CG requested any visual on downed paddle boarder. Casualty sighted and reported to CG. LB attended to recover him safely to shore. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 40132 |
| 36844 | 19/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | CG requested any sighting of swimmer reported missing. No sighting obtained. nfa | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 39829 |
| 36838 | 19/12/2020 | NCI Porthcawl | Assisted with recovery of lady in cliff fall by CRT and ambulance. | NCI | No | Yes | 39824 |
| 36819 | 17/12/2020 | NCI Porthcawl | CG requested any sighting of surfer reported by MoP as 'in difficulty'. Target sighted and reported to CG as in no trouble FAWGI | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 39665 |
| 36820 | 16/12/2020 | NCI Shoreham | Relayed MoP report of drifting upturned hull to harbour authority and CG. Monitored target until it was recovered to shore. | NCI | No | Yes | n/k |
| 36807 | 15/12/2020 | NCI Felixstowe | PanPan heard from yacht aground on River Deben Bar. HMCG requested NCI to keep under observation while local FV towed yacht from bar. Yacht safely made way upriver towards marina. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 039515 |
| 36866 | 15/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | CG requested any sighting of sailing boat reportedly 'in trouble'. No sighting achieved. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 39542 |
| 36811 | 15/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | HMCG requested visual on vessel following report of boat in trouble. Nothing seen. NFAR. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 039542 |
| 36813 | 15/12/2020 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG advised lady fallen and requiring medevac. Casualty identified close to waterline. CRT tasked and on scene to move casualty further up beach in CG vehicle to await ambulance. . | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 039539 |
| 36810 | 14/12/2020 | NCI Exmouth | HMCG requested visual search for missing kite board. Nothing seen, no casualties. HMCG advised. NFAR. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 039441 |
| 36803 | 13/12/2020 | NCI Fleetwood | HMCG requested visual on person in water. No sighting, but agreed to remain on watch. CRT/ILB searching shoreline. No sighting, visibility poor, stood down by HMCG | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 039405 |
| 36788 | 12/12/2020 | NCI Lee-on-the-Solent | Relayed MoP report of capsized yacht to CG. Casualty not visible due to sun glare. LB attended, nearby craft had provided assistance. No casualties. nfa | NCI | Yes | Yes | 39327 |
| 36762 | 09/12/2020 | NCI Hengistbury Head | Reported grounded catamaran to CG. Monitored its safety un til refloated on tide. | NCI | No | Yes | 39140 |
| 36763 | 09/12/2020 | NCI Nells Point | CG requested visual search for possibly drifting canoe. Area surveyed and after CG contacted canoe on radio NFA | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | n/n |
| 36756 | 08/12/2020 | NCI Newhaven | Relayed to CG MoP report of 'nautical' items found on beach cleaning. | NCI | No | Yes | n/n |
Currently 56 NCI stations are operational and manned by over 2600 volunteers keeping watch around the British Isles from Fleetwood in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
NCI watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies offering a variety of skills and experience, and full training by the NCI ensures that high standards are met.
The words National Coastwatch Institution and Eyes Along the Coast and the NCI logos are Registered Trademarks of NCI.
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