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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49400 | 15/04/2024 | NCI Exmouth | NCI Exmouth observed unmanned RIB - contacted Harbourmaster and HMCG -Safety boat diverted to recover | NCI | No | Yes | 512384 |
| 49409 | 15/04/2024 | NCI Porthcawl | MOP reported to NCI Porthcawl bundle of clothing on beach. NCI contacted HMCG gave camera link - NCI tasked to monitor-then said they had no concerns - suggested calling Police in case of missing , person - done | NCI | No | Yes | 511310 |
| 49383 | 14/04/2024 | NCI Boscastle | NCI Boscastle reported sighting of 2 paddles and orange object 1NM North of station to HMCG.CRT tasked and ILB launched and was conned to target by NCI, 2 paddles and traffic cone recovered | NCI | Yes | Yes | 511184 |
| 49391 | 14/04/2024 | NCI Gosport | HMCG asked if NCI Gosport had visual on angling craft with engine failure - NCI confirmed with bearing and distance - Harbour Patrol Craft recovered | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 511133 |
| 49373 | 13/04/2024 | NCI Worms Head | MOP observed outward bound on causeway due to close- NCI Worms Head contacted HMCG about possible stranding. RNLI tasked retrieved 2 casualties | NCI | Yes | Yes | 511063 |
| 49379 | 13/04/2024 | NCI Skegness | fisherman reported windsurfer appeared to be in trouble - seen heading back to shore | NCI | No | Yes | 511021 |
| 49382 | 13/04/2024 | NCI Stone Point | Mayday from YBS reporting engine failure- engine re started, then failed. NCI Contacted HMCG- had visual - casualty then reporting engine fire, extinguished and dropped anchor. LB tasked and conned to, casualty. LB towed to safety | NCI | Yes | Yes | 511031 |
| 49367 | 12/04/2024 | NCI Torbay | YBS called NCI Torbay on 65 - stuck on Wave Buoy. NCI contacted HMCG - AWLB deployed | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510866 |
| 49374 | 12/04/2024 | NCI Exmouth | CH 65 call from YBS stuck on Wave Buoy- NCI Exmouth contacted HMCG | NCI | No | Yes | 510866 |
| 49378 | 12/04/2024 | NCI Cromer | YBS advised HMCG that it had engine problems - AWLB tasked to recover - NCI Cromer monitored situation | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 510884 |
| 49390 | 12/04/2024 | NCI Whitstable | MOP reported capsized dinghy out of visual of NCI Whitstable. HMCG contacted with approx location. CRT and RNLI tasked - casualty recovered | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510900 |
| 49364 | 11/04/2024 | NCI Newhaven | MOP contacted NCI Newhaven re unresponsive man by steps at Newhaven Heights appeared drunk with legs over cliff edge, NCI passed on details to the police. CRT attended | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510693 |
| 49369 | 11/04/2024 | NCI Skegness | MOP rang to say they saw person in the water waving their arms off Chapel Point | NCI | No | Yes | 510771 |
| 49372 | 11/04/2024 | NCI Porthcawl | Police requested NCI Porthcawl to make visual search for despondent male, NCI scanned areas - nothing found. Police contacted to report person found inland | Police | No | No | |
| 49359 | 10/04/2024 | NCI Fleetwood | orange lifeboat observed drifting not under command off Rossall Point. HMCG informed who tasked NCI to monitor. HMCG to arrange recovery | NCI | No | Yes | 510584 |
| 49362 | 10/04/2024 | NCI Canvey Island | Police contacted NCI Canvey Island - tasked to make visual search for male with description. Nothing found continued to monitor until close | Police | No | No | N/A |
| 49356 | 10/04/2024 | NCI Lyme Bay | NCI Lyme Bay observed new substantial rock fall. Informed HMCG who tasked CRT. No ingress on coastal path after inspection stood down | NCI | No | Yes | 510569 |
| 49346 | 08/04/2024 | NCI Mablethorpe | NCI were asked to open station by emergency planning officer and monitor the high tide. CCTV coverage requested due to flood alert by EA. No incidents seen, and images forwarded to officer. | NCI | No | No | n/a |
| 43947 | 08/04/2024 | NCI Penzance | HMCG were trying to contact a yacht with no response. NCI had good visual, CG informed. Vessel entered harbour, AWLB tasked to check vessel, which tied up safely, NFA. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 510322 |
| 49348 | 08/04/2024 | NCI Shoreham | Lifebuoy marker, still flashing, was handed to W/K by MOP. HMCG informed, CRT collected item and ILB conducted search, nothing found, assets stood down. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510274 |
| 49335 | 07/04/2024 | NCI Porthcawl | MOP contacted HMCG re. person struggling in water. NCI asked for visual. ILB and CRT tasked. Extensive search revealed only a yellow buoy, HELO also searching. Nothing seen, assets stood down. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 510197 |
| 49298 | 06/04/2024 | NCI Newhaven | MOP reported to NCI debris washed ashore. Item resembled a deflated dinghy. HMCG informed, CRT tasked to investigate, but unable to trace items as tide was ebbing. | NCI | No | Yes | 509997 |
| 49305 | 06/04/2024 | NCI Bembridge | NCI informed HMCG 2 windsurfers were possibly in trouble, in water and unable to regain boards. 1 casualty reached shore, other heading that way, CG informed. Both casualties reached shore, NFA. | NCI | No | Yes | 510030 |
| 49307 | 06/04/2024 | NCI Newhaven | NCI informed HMCG fireworks were being let off on beach, 3 vehicles involved. Rockets could be mistaken for flares. Police then informed, when a confrontation developed between perpetrators , and walkers with dogs. Details of vehicles involved supplied to Police, but vehicles left the scene. | NCI | No | Yes | PO1030 |
| 49309 | 06/04/2024 | NCI Gorleston | HMCG called NCI requesting search of beach following report of person in difficulty in water. Nothing seen, but ambulance seen on promenade, which departed without any casuaty. NFA | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | n/a |
| 49326 | 06/04/2024 | NCI Exmouth | HMCG were asked for visual on windsurfer in difficulty. ILB tasked, NCI identified casualty by CCTV.Casualty recovered safely to shore, medical assistance not required. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 510087 |
| 49332 | 06/04/2024 | NCI Wells-next-the-Sea | NCI observed 2 MOP wading/swimming across channel. HMCG notified. LB tasked but stood down as casualties reached dry land. CRT arrived to locate persons involved, but they had left. CG informed. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510051 |
| 49295 | 05/04/2024 | NCI Stone Point | A yacht reported on VHF a dinghy adrift - NCI established visual. Passing vessel attempted to pick up but failed. HMCG advised. Dinghy drifted ashore and was dragged above high tide line. , Owners, who had been towing dinghy, arrived to pick it up next morning. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 509906 |
| 49301 | 05/04/2024 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG called NCI re. report by MOP of object in water. Search requested. Only objects seen were marker buoy and a wing surfer. Visual maintained but nothing seen. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 509915 |
| 49302 | 05/04/2024 | NCI Charmouth | CRT arrived at NCI following report of child injured on beach. NCI requested to keep lookout, and HMCG reported that casualty was on way to hospital by ambulance. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 509864 |
| 49304 | 05/04/2024 | NCI Exmouth | HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of kite entangled in overhead shore string lines. Visual requested, CG advised MOP to let go of kite. Local council informed. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | n/a |
| 49321 | 05/04/2024 | NCI Lyme Bay | MOP informed NCI there was a dead dolphin on beach. HMCG informed. CRT tasked, area cordoned off. Carcass to be collected by council. | NCI | No | Yes | 510151 |
| 49285 | 04/04/2024 | NCI Calshot Tower | NCI observed 2 paddle boarders in difficulty. HMCG informed. Yacht took casualties on board, CG informed. Local LB met yacht and took casualties ashore, one needing ambulance. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 509784 |
| 49273 | 03/04/2024 | NCI Calshot Tower | NCI overheard a call (potential MayDay) requesting assistance, from yacht, 4 POB + 2 dogs. NCI had visual, HMCG informed. ILB tasked to recover vessel, which had run aground by then. ILB towed, casualty to buoy, where it was handed over to Seastart. Casualty towed to safety, crew allegedly ill equipped. Police met vessel once moored. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 509698 |
| 49283 | 03/04/2024 | NCI Shoreham | HMCG called NCI re. abandoned surf board on beach. MOP had reported surfer in water. CG contacted after scan and windsurfer and kite surfer seen, no sign of distress. No board seen on beach., CRT tasked to investigate, and they saw a kite surfer walking on beach. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 509665 |
| 49258 | 02/04/2024 | NCI Torbay | MOP called NCI re washed up drum, labelled Sulphuric Acid, on beach. HM could not be contacted, HMCG informed, CRT tasked. HM then informed NCI the drum had been recovered, CRT stood down. | NCI | No | Yes | 509518 |
| 49261 | 02/04/2024 | NCI Lee-on-the-Solent | MOP re[ported to HMCG a kite surfer in difficulty. CG asked NCI for visual, and NCI confirmed casualty was returning to shore. casualty was advised by a MOP he had caused an incident. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 509517 |
| 49262 | 02/04/2024 | NCI Nare Point | NCI observed a yacht aground, HMCG informed. ILB tasked, and took vessel under tow to harbour, CG informed. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 509270 |
| 49269 | 02/04/2024 | NCI Newhaven | MOP called NCI re. 2 windsurfers in difficulty. Visual established, HMCG informed, no sign of distress. CRT tasked, both casualties returned to beach unaided, CG informed. | NCI | No | Yes | 509538 |
| 49282 | 02/04/2024 | NCI Felixstowe | NCI observed a yacht aground in channel. HMCG informed, but vessel freed itself while on the phone to CG. 20 minutes later same vessel was aground again, CG informed and they tried to contact vessel., Yacht then refloated again and entered river, and CG contacted to ascertain all was well. | NCI | No | Yes | 509562 |
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.
General enquiries
0300 111 1202
Media enquiries
0845 460 1202
17 Dean Street, Liskeard,
Cornwall, PL14 4AB