Incident Summaries

The Total Number of Incidents since we started recording them can be found by selecting '-Year' from the Year filter : 7727
Alternatively select a specific year to see how many Incidents were reported for that Year.

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.


Please note: NCI Canvey Island was previously know as NCI Holehaven and moved location on Monday 18 October 2021. All NCI Canvey Island Incident Summaries before that date will be in respect of NCI Holehaven at its previous location.

Glossary of Terms
FAWGI = False Alarm With Good Intent, MoP = Member of the Public, NFA = No Further Action, HMCG, CG or MCA = Coastguard, MisPer = Missing Person
CRT = Coastguard Rescue Team, CGOC = Coast Guard Operations Centre, ILB/ALB/LB = Lifeboats, MV = Motor Vessel, MB = Motor Boat,
ML = Motor Launch, FV = Fishing Vessel, PB = Power Boat, PWC = Personal Water Craft ("Jet Ski"), RIB = Rigid Inflatable Boat,
VLCC = Very Large Crude Carrier, UKBF = UK Border Force
Incident No. Date of Incident Station Name Incident Summary Initiated by Lifeboat involved MCA MCA No.
46529 10/07/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. call from MOP about jetski, 2 POB, struggling with power. NCI already had visual. NCI asked to monitor. Casualty headed slowly towards harbour and safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes 523079
46530 10/07/2023 NCI Froward Point Pan Pan from motor cruiser with engine failure. Out of sight of NCI, but asked NCI to pass on info to HMCG. ILB tasked, unable to speak to CG so NCI acted as relay. ILB towed casualty to harbour. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 523012
46573 10/07/2023 NCI Exmouth HMCG called NCI re. yacht with 1 POB + dog. Family had expressed concern. CG then updated NCI on position, but NCI did not have visual. ILB tasked, casualty recovered and met by ambulance. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 523031
46521 09/07/2023 NCI Cape Cornwall HMCG called NCI re. fishing vessel with engine failure. NCI established visual and asked to monitor. AWLB tasked and asked to stand by. Casualty then restarted engine and LB stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 522883
46534 09/07/2023 NCI Exmouth Yacht reported to NCI a floating chest freezer off Berry Head. Yacht had tried to inform HMCG. NCI called CG - no action taken. (See I/R 46516 - Torbay NCI) NCI No Yes n/a
46515 09/07/2023 NCI Needles NCI heard report of capsized fishing vessel, 2 on hull. NCI had visual, HMCG informed. ILB tasked, and recovered 2 casualties. Vessel then drifting, and taken under tow to safety. NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes 522813
46516 09/07/2023 NCI Torbay NCI w/k reported from his boat, a floating fridge/freezer, causing a danger to vessels. HMCG informed. Harbour master also informed. Object predicted to hit land if current wind is maintained. NFA NCI No Yes 522866
46497 08/07/2023 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed a kite surfer struggling to get back out of water. HMCG informed. No camera link available. I:B launched, then casualty got back up and reached shore. Assets stood down. NCI Yes Yes 522441
46498 08/07/2023 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed 2 power boats inside swimming buoys off beach. HMCG informed. Difficulty in contacting race control, but eventually contacted and promised to deal with it. NCI No Yes n/a
46499 08/07/2023 NCI Exmouth NCI heard radio exchange between HMCg and vessel with engine failure. NCI confirmed visual, which was maintained until ILB attended and towed yacht to safety. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 522601
46500 08/07/2023 NCI Exmouth RNLI on exercise requested NCI monitor fishing vessel aground. casualty attempting to refloat. ILB attended casualty, HMCG advised. RNLI Yes Yes n/a
46510 08/07/2023 NCI Gwennap Head NCI observed General Cargo ship drifting 'not under command' - engine failure. Island ferry contacted NCI re. situation, and it was decided to inform HMCG. CG aware. NCI asked to monitor., Emergency crew on its way, and casualty dropped anchor. NCI stood down, situation under control. NCI No Yes 522574
46493 07/07/2023 NCI Exmouth NCI observed 4 swimmers in shipping channel. LGs and HMCG informed. 1 swimmer recovered by LG jetski, there swam ashore. NFA NCI No Yes 522448
46486 06/07/2023 NCI Prawle Point Yacht called NCI re. engine broken down. Position identified, HMCG informed NCI had visual. Other vessels in area relayed to CG. casualty raised sail and made slow progress to harbour. NCI stood down. NCI No Yes 522242
46467 05/07/2023 NCI Calshot Tower NCI observed paddle boarder, no lifejacket, struggling against tide. VTS advised, and yacht declared MayDay. HMCG acknowledged. Swimmer tried to reach casualty, NCI had visual. RIB tried to help, ILB , on scene, HELO requested but ambulance en route. 1st casualty and board on yacht, 2nd casualty catatonic but breathing - recovered by ILB. Ambulance removed both. NCI Yes Yes 522074
46473 05/07/2023 NCI Torbay DCS alert, and Pan Pan re. yacht with engine failure, NCI had visual, HMCG informed. No vessels in area. ILB tasked, and NCI conned LB onto casualty after confusion as to position. ILB towed yacht , to safety MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 522071
46476 05/07/2023 NCI Porthcawl HMCG called NCI re. yacht taking on water, 1 POB. Visual established, CG informed. ILB and AWLB tasked, and put crew and pump aboard. Vessel stable and escorted back to marina by AWLB. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 522024
46479 05/07/2023 NCI Charlestown NCI observed wind surfer constantly falling off. No Lifejacket. Yacht checked casualty, and picked up windsurfer. HMCG informed. casualty safely on board yacht. NCI No Yes 522061
46582 05/07/2023 NCI Whitstable Off duty W/K observed wing surfer in trouble, opened lookout, and informed HMCG. CRT tasked, casualty gradually drifted to shore and met by CRT. NCI No Yes 522097
46464 05/07/2023 NCI Calshot Tower NCI received a call from motor boat which had blown onto mudbank. 4 POB. HMCG informed, no immediate danger. CG contacted direct, and it was decided to wait for next tide., passing boat collected occupants, NFA. Vessel refloated at next tide. NCI No Yes 522053
46465 04/07/2023 NCI Porthcawl MOP reported to NCI a dead porpoise on rocks. Photo taken. HMCG informed and asked NCI to extend watch until CRT arrived. CRT told location, NCI stood down. Council to effect removal. NCI No Yes 521964
46426 03/07/2023 NCI Calshot Tower HMCG asked NCI for visual on capsized catamaran - affirmative. Vessel righted by crew, CG informed, ILB escorted vessel to safety, NCI monitored situation MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 521717
46427 03/07/2023 NCI Torbay NCI observed a trackside fire, phoned Fire Brigade, who were just arriving on scene. HMCG informed as courtesy NCI No Yes n/a
46451 03/07/2023 NCI Swanage HMCG called NCI requesting a visual search for paddle boarders - negative. Lookout closed, but S.M. then was asked to return and continue search - still negative and light forced close down., One casualty was later found safe , and second had swum ashore and his deflated PB found near Hengistbury HeadI. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 521765
46399 02/07/2023 NCI Stone Point NCI observed wind surfer sitting on board, unable to raise sail. HMCG informed, Pan Pan issued. Local LB responded, casualty requested help. Casualty then appeared to sail ashore, W/K spoke to , casualty who was fine. NCI Yes Yes 521568
46411 02/07/2023 NCI Hornsea NCI observed 2 adults + 1 child adrift on jetski. HMCG informed, local LB tasked. Flare set off. NCI conned LB to casualty, which took persons aboard and towed jetski to shore. All safe. NCI No Yes 521576
46413 02/07/2023 NCI Charmouth Heritage centre reported to NCI a landslide, casualties unknown. HMCG informed. Fossil hunters had reported a problem. CRT area taped off area to east. NCI No Yes 521536
46424 02/07/2023 NCI Southend NCI observed paddle boarder in difficulty. HMCG informed. ILB tasked and was conned to casualty by NCI. ILB recovered casualty and returned to beach. All safe. NCI Yes Yes 521563
46429 02/07/2023 NCI Exmouth Pan Pan from yacht with broken mast. NCI confirmed to HMCG vessel still upright. Harbour Master and AWLB arrived on scene. Vessel carried on under power. Mast sunk and marked by buoy., Pan Pan cancelled MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 521564
46402 01/07/2023 NCI Shoreham HMCG asked NCI for visual of person reported to be in water by pier. Unable to see anything, CG informed. AWLB tasked, and found nothing. MCA/HMCG No Yes 521439
46484 01/07/2023 NCI Needles NCI observed man fall overboard from sailing vessel. LB informed via VHF Ch 0. casualty retrieved and vessel proceeded, ILB did welfare check. NCI Yes Yes n/a
47192 01/07/2023 NCI Bembridge NCI observed a catamaran in Round Island race capsize. 6 persons in water and 2 on hull. ILB tasked, plus 2 safety RIBs. Casualties recovered and taken to LB station, attended by paramedics., NCI monitored unsecured hull, which was anchored by support boats. NCI Yes Yes n/a
46417 01/07/2023 NCI Nare Point HMCG called NCI re. flare seen. NCI gave names of vessels in area. Pan Pan issued, ILB tasked, divers fro dive charter removed rope from prop, ILB stood down, Pan Pan cancelled. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 521343
46485 01/07/2023 NCI Needles NCI observed catamaran capsize. AWLB and ILB informed via Ch0. 2 in water. AWLB called away, ILB took on 2 casualties, and third recovered from upturned hull. Vessel drifting so NAV warning issued. NCI Yes Yes n/a
46368 01/07/2023 NCI Hengistbury Head Catamaran capsized, NCI had visual. AWLB tasked, also local LB, assisted casualty. Needles NCI also involved. NCI Yes Yes 521250
46438 01/07/2023 NCI Charlestown NCI observed canoe, 3 POB fishing, no lifejackets, and unconcerned they were drifting and approaching bad weather. HMCG informed. Situation worsened, CG informed, AWLB tasked., LB recovered casualties and returned them to shore. All safe. NCI Yes Yes 521409
46371 01/07/2023 NCI Calshot Tower NCI detected a MOB alarm, HMCG informed. Position corresponded to moving yacht, CG informed. Vessel heading up river, harbour master informed. No reported injuries. NCI No Yes 521341
46387 01/07/2023 NCI Charmouth NCI heard messages re. walkers cut off by tide, location uncertain. NCI searched and gave location. CRT already tasked. Single casualty identified, and was no longer in danger, ILB checked for others , Negative MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 531368
46457 01/07/2023 NCI St Donat's Bay RNLI LGs called NCI requesting visual search for MOP on cliffs, trying to rescue dog which had fallen. Visual confirmed, casualty self rescued, met by LGs. CRT and AWLb tasked to search for dog., Nothing found, assets stood down, dog found dead next day, washed up by tide. RNLI Yes Yes 521399
46363 30/06/2023 NCI Charmouth HMCG received report of 2 MOP + dog cut off by tide.ILB and CRT tasked. LB unable to rescue, HELO not possible due to low cloud. CRT executed a cliff rescue, all safe. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 521142

About

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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