During 2020 all NCI stations closed for two months at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. On re-opening most stations were single-crewed for the rest of the year.
| Incident No. | Date of Incident | Station Name | Incident Summary | Initiated by | Lifeboat involved | MCA | MCA No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48604 | 08/01/2024 | NCI Newhaven | HMCG tasked NCI Newhaven to make visual search for woman standing on rocks near RNLI station. NCI confirmed and that she appeared not to be in imminent danger. HMCG tasked LB to check - NCI stood down | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 500712 |
| 48601 | 07/01/2024 | NCI Gosport | Mayday heard from IOW Ferry- fire on board. Vessel under contro; proceeding to to normal dock. NCI Gosport had visual and monitored | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 500644 |
| 48616 | 07/01/2024 | NCI Needles | HMCG requested NCI Needles to walk along the coastpath to try and locate a yacht that was unsure of position, WK observed lone yacht and reported position to CG who tasked LB, NCI stood down | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 500647 |
| 48568 | 06/01/2024 | NCI Torbay | HMCG passed info to NCI Torbay re Missing Person from day before. Kept observtions while -ILB CG Helo searched until stood down | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 500514 |
| 48577 | 06/01/2024 | NCI St Alban's Head | MOP contacted NCI having found 3 objects resembling grenades at Chaplins Pool - MOP emailed pictures which were forwarded to HMCG, Police elected not to attend so CRT were tasked. NCI were stood down and disposal team expected next day | NCI | No | Yes | 500529 |
| 48579 | 06/01/2024 | NCI Chapel Point | NCI Chapel Point observed 6-7 motorcycles racing on beach amongst MOP - informed Police on 101 | NCI | No | No | |
| 48585 | 06/01/2024 | NCI Southend | NCI Southend observed 2 persons running on to MPD land - one had dog lead poss searching for dog, NCI reported to CG. Person returned and spoke to NCI - lost dog. NCI poss sighting approx 1 mile., MOP reported sighting RNLI Hovercraft launched. - NCI Stood down | NCI | Yes | Yes | 500547 |
| 48590 | 06/01/2024 | NCI Newhaven | HMCG tasked NCI Newhaven to make visual search for vulnerable person. Search made - nothing found. Pol called in - still no sighting, Delayed closing Lookout until failing light, CG stood NCI down | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | |
| 48549 | 04/01/2024 | NCI Bembridge | search by CRT from previous day continued for missing person. ILB joined in. NCI requested to relay messages on CH 00, BILB relay probable position of body smell picked up by pol dog - poss body had been there previously. Search stopped | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 500337 |
| 48551 | 04/01/2024 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG tasked NCI Porthcawl to make visual search for reported swimmer in trouble - scan made with CCTV - nothing sighted - CG requested continued, scanning. Confirmed sighting was a buoy/ pot marker. NCI thanked and stood down | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 500361 |
| 48536 | 03/01/2024 | NCI Bembridge | Continuation - CRT and HELO continued search. CRT requested NCI to act as relay on CH 00 in necessary. Male in dark clothing . NCI reported by Phone possible sighting. HELO made search - nothing , found. All stood down | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 500258 |
| 48535 | 03/01/2024 | NCI Fleetwood | HMCG requested NCI Fleetwood to observe and monitor MOP stuck in mud. CRT on scene - extracted casualty | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 500267 |
| 48546 | 03/01/2024 | NCI Shoreham | RNLI reported ALB searching for kite surfer = board found on beach. not met friends, NCI used CCTV - nothing seen. Person found on land - stood down | RNLI | Yes | Yes | 500272 |
| 48533 | 03/01/2024 | NCI Bembridge | JRCC tasked to make visual on missing person - full scan made - nothing found. ILB/CRT tasked | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 500258 |
| 48507 | 02/01/2024 | NCI Hengistbury Head | Ch65 call received by NCI Hengistbury Head re yacht adrift in Harbour had visual - contacted HMCG, yacht now washed up on slipway - BCP in attendance. NCI stood down | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 500175 |
| 48515 | 02/01/2024 | NCI Boscastle | In extreme weather conditions NCI Boscastle were aware of two persons and dog clinging to the building - very distressed. Taken into Lookout . Received ch65 call from CRT requesting info on two walker, proved to be the ones sheltering. then later requested sightings of other walkers - not seen. Wind subsided and walkers made own way back under observation | NCI | No | No | |
| 48524 | 02/01/2024 | NCI Exmouth | MOP advised passage by SUP and Kite Board from Exmouth to Sidmouth not to attempt passage owing to adverse conditions, NCI Exmouth notified HMCG and RNLI | NCI | No | Yes | N/A |
| 48483 | 01/01/2024 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG asked NCI to gain visual on 2 surfers, after call from MOP. Visibility poor, visual difficult. CG informed. @ casualties seen, ILB tasked, but casualties self rescued. CG informed, LB stood down. | Fire | Yes | Yes | 500081 |
| 48461 | 29/12/2023 | NCI Penzance | NCI observed 3 Paddle Boarders, and logged progress. MOP called HMCG re. concerns for them, and NCI asked to look. NCI replied they seemed fine, however due to conditions, ILB tasked to intercept., ILB reported they were fine, and was stood down. PBs reached shore safely, CG informed. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 546093 |
| 48452 | 27/12/2023 | NCI Bembridge | NCI observed a wind surfer go into the sea in rough conditions. Mast then broke, and casualty tried swimming with board. NCI monitored situation, and confirmed casualty had reached shore, uninjured., HMCG informed of incident, sail still in the water | NCI | No | Yes | 545842 |
| 48450 | 26/12/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG called NCI re. call from MOP re. swimmer 200 mtrs out. Search revealed nothing, CRT tasked, pot marker sighted. ILB tasked as MOP reported more swimmers, but objects confirmed as buoys. NFA | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 545773 |
| 48440 | 24/12/2023 | NCI Stone Point | MOP reported to NCI a windsurf board with no-one aboard. HMCG advised, ILB tasked, and found casualty, whose board and sail had separated. Kit fixed, and casualty continued on their way. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 545626 |
| 48441 | 24/12/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | ILB called NCI re. call to wind surfer in difficulty. NCI advised they had visual, and updated position. ILB recovered casualty to shore. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 545615 |
| 48446 | 24/12/2023 | NCI Wells-next-the-Sea | NCI observed 2 MOP cut off by incoming tide. HMCG informed. Casualties decided to wade back through knee deep water to shore. CG informed, NFA | NCI | No | Yes | 545632 |
| 48431 | 21/12/2023 | NCI Filey | NCI observed MOP in danger of being cut off by tide. NCI informed HMCG. Casualty then tried climbing unstable cliff, CG kept informed, and casualty reached top of cliff and safety, despite danger. | NCI | No | Yes | 545352 |
| 48421 | 18/12/2023 | NCI Gosport | Pan Pan on Ch16 from yacht reporting Man Overboard. HMCG requested position, no response. NCI then heard yacht report man reconvered, no re[ply from CG. NCI reported fact to CG, who asked NCI to call , vessel on Ch16. No response, CG informed. Pan Pan was cancelled as no further contact was made. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 545145 |
| 48390 | 17/12/2023 | NCI Gosport | HMCG tasked CRT to a vessel aground, NCI had visual, CG informed. NCI observed work boat establishing tow, and towed casualty to marina. CG informed. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 545033 |
| 48391 | 17/12/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | Police called NCI asking to lookout for an elderly person, probably with dementia. NCI carried out search over two watches, nothing seen. Casualty was later located by Police, NFA. | Police | No | Yes | 545043 |
| 48412 | 17/12/2023 | NCI Southend | NCI observed a small vessel, very low in the water, HMCG informed. vessel then disappeared, ILB tasked, NCI conned to position. CRT also tasked, and search carried out for debris. Assets happy that , no person was in danger. Nothing found, assets stood down. Nothing seen at low tide next day. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 545070 |
| 48387 | 16/12/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | NCI observed a large fridge floating in the sea. HMCG informed, and a local Navigation Warning was issued. | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 48383 | 14/12/2023 | NCI Shoreham | HMCG called NCI re report of strange object floating in sea. Visual established it to be a buoy on its side. kayaker also checked. CG advised, NFA | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 544739 |
| 48355 | 12/12/2023 | NCI Gosport | NCI heard May Day on Ch16, distressed male voice. HMCG informed, Pan Pan issued. Pan Pan for sailing vessel was due to a SART alert, but nothing was heard from May Day vessel, so all cancelled | NCI | No | Yes | 544880 |
| 48347 | 10/12/2023 | NCI Exmouth | NCI observed lone paddle boarder 1 mile offshore, against the tide. HMCG informed, and observation maintained until visual was lost. MOP also called CG. ILB tasked by CG. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 544440 |
| 48294 | 04/12/2023 | NCI Worms Head | MOP reported ordanance on causeway, to NCI. HMCG informed, but too late as causeway was closing. Next day, CG located object, which was the top of a WW2 mine, used as an anchor weight. | NCI | No | Yes | 543807 |
| 48280 | 03/12/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | HMCG asked NCI if they had seen a kayak, as MOP had reported kayak and towel on beach. NCI spotted kayak, MOP gave photos, CRT tasked. decided kayak had been washed up some time ago., Towel not connected, probably used to dry dog. CRT moved kayak to safe spot. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 543780 |
| 48281 | 03/12/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | NCI observed fishing vessel suspected of illegal fishing. IFCA informed. IFCA tracked vessel and decided it was legal, NCI thanked for vigilance. | NCI | No | No | n/a |
| 48289 | 03/12/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG called NCI re.call from MOP concerned for fishing vessel broken down. NCI had visual on charter vessel, 6 POB, and confirmed all on board were still fishing and fine. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 543804 |
| 48293 | 03/12/2023 | NCI Felixstowe | NCI observed a yacht leaving river into rough, dangerous weather as darkness fell. HMCG informed of concern. Contact attempted on Ch 16 by CG, but none made. NCI extended watch to monitor vessel until, it reached safety of harbour. NFA | NCI | No | Yes | 543806 |
| 48332 | 02/12/2023 | NCI St Donat's Bay | Police requested support from NCI re. report of bones by MOP. W/K searched reported location - negative, only driftwood. Police later shown photo by MOP of porpoise bones | Police | No | No | POL068 |
| 48250 | 30/11/2023 | NCI Torbay | HMCG called NCI re. report of paddle boarder in difficulty. Search requested, casualty spotted, CG informed, of location. CRT also tasked, and took over situation. NCI stood down, , Later all reported to be well. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 543504 |
Currently almost 60 National Coastwatch stations are operational and manned by over 2600 volunteer watchkeepers around the British Isles from Fleetwood in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Filey in North Yorkshire.
National Coastwatch 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 National Coastwatch 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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