Incident Summaries

The Total Number of Incidents since we started recording them can be found by selecting '-Year' from the Year filter : 7730
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.
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
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
46365 30/06/2023 NCI Porthcawl Kayaker observed in difficulty, being assisted by LG on rescue board. HMCG requested visual from NCI. Monitoring maintained with camera. ILB tasked, LGs managed to get casualty ashore, all safe. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 521151
46369 30/06/2023 NCI Calshot Tower NCI observed kite surfer in difficulty, W/K went to shore to assist. HMCG informed, ambulance called, casualty had broken ankle. CRT tasked, W/K offered first aid. Casualty taken to hospital by car. NCI No Yes 521152
46373 30/06/2023 NCI Gosport Pan Pan from yacht with engine failure, 4 POB. Proceeding under sail to harbour. HMCG advised vessel contacts harbour master, NCI had visual. Vessel met by tender from boat yard and towed to safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes 512134
46353 29/06/2023 NCI Lyme Bay NCI observed a solo diver enter water, but did not return. HMCG informed, and asked NCI to stay on duty until plan decided. NCI then stood down, no further information given NCI No Yes 521029
46359 29/06/2023 NCI Polruan Pan Pan issued by sailing vessel with engine failure. Vessel not seen in given position, HMCG informed. Position amended, visual established. Motor vessel towed casualty to harbour and safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes n/a
46448 29/06/2023 NCI Bembridge NCI rang HMCG re yacht anchored in shipping channel. LB crew member thought it may obstruct channel. MCI asked to monitor. Vessel then hauled anchor and moved away. CG informed. RNLI No Yes n/a
46398 29/06/2023 NCI Swanage HMCG called NCI re. MOP report of concern for 2 paddle boarders. Visual established, no apparent issue. Nearby vessel identity passed on. Yacht confirmed no issue, PBs ashore. PBs then went out, again, and were near canoeists with no cause for concern. MCA/HMCG No Yes 520998
46352 29/06/2023 NCI Porthcawl HMCG called NCI re. call from MOP of person trapped on rocks. Search revealed nothing, but was ongoing. ILB tasked, still nothing seen. Further information to CG revealed initial info was wrong. NFA. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes n/a
46332 28/06/2023 NCI Stone Point Passing yacht reported to HMCG a yacht was aground. NCI advised they had visual, and gave correct position. ILB and CRT tasked, LB crew found no-one on yacht, but found a used flair., Owner located, returned to casualty vessel and waited for tide to refloat vessel. ILB stood down, but CRT waited with vessel. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 520830
46347 28/06/2023 NCI Charlestown MOP reported to NCI re. overloaded RIB from a tall ship, very low in water, HMCG informed. NCI asked to monitor. NCI observed five runs from beach to ship, only 4 POB each time. All safely aboard. NCI No Yes 520892
46412 28/06/2023 NCI Needles MOP advised NCI a walker had fallen on cliff path. W/K went to casualty - HMCG informed, CRT tasked. Ambulance requested. casualty's condition worsened and became distressed. CRT and Police , attended, then ambulance recovered casualty. NCI stood down. NCI No Yes 520865
46325 27/06/2023 NCI Rame Head NCI observed RIB drifting. HMCG asked NCI to monitor, Yacht asked for position, so it could assist, then withdrew offer. Tug then was conned onto casualty by NCI, and towed casualty to safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes 520730
46326 27/06/2023 NCI Hengistbury Head Motor Cruiser lost engine power while on trials, and dropped anchor. HMCG informed. NCI had visual, 2 POB with lifejackets. Pan Pan issued, and a tug went to assist, NCI stood down. MCA/HMCG No Yes 520740
46317 26/06/2023 NCI Whitstable HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of kite surfer in difficulty. Visual established but no sign of distress, CRT confirmed all well, CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 520555
46335 26/06/2023 NCI Gosport HMVG saked NCI to monitor paddle boarder, reported by vessel. NCI established visual. casualty then lost to sight, but RNLI informed CG they had contact with PB on shore. All safe. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 520566
46338 26/06/2023 NCI Polruan MOP informed NCI of RIB with engine problems. HMCG informed, ILB tasked, but given wrong location. NCI corrected information. ILB returned to correct location, but no sign of RIB. NFA NCI Yes Yes 520590
46303 25/06/2023 NCI Torbay AWLB was returning from a call when it was called by a yacht struggling against wind and tide. LB said they would return after dropping off casualties. NCI had visual and conned LB onto yacht, , which was towed to safety by LB. RNLI Yes Yes n/a
46304 25/06/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. report of inflatable blown out to sea, unsure if anyone with it. Search revealed nothing, CG informed. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes 520442
46306 25/06/2023 NCI Calshot Tower HMCG requested NCI look for yacht aground at harbour entrance. Not visible. ILB tasked, NCI gave location believed to be correct, not as originally given. LB attended, waited for tide, but vessel had, technical issues so towed to safety of marina. RNLI Yes Yes 520262
46312 25/06/2023 NCI Torbay NCI received call from MOP re. 6 persons on 4 paddle boards, which they had been monitoring. HMCG informed. 2 reached beach, then 1 new PB went out to escort them in. CG informed., Remaining PBs went out of sight, so W/K drove to check they had reached beach, all safe, but cold. Only 2 of 7 were wearing buoyancy aids. NCI No Yes
46301 25/06/2023 NCI Torbay NCI received call from ferry to say 3 paddle boarders were in trouble due to offshore wind. NCI had visual, called harbour authority but RIB towed them to beach and safety. NCI No No n/a
46302 25/06/2023 NCI Brancaster NCI observed 3 girls being blown out to sea on 2 inflatables.HMCG informed, and asked NCI to monitor. 2 Paddle boarders assisted casualties to beach and safety. NFA NCI No Yes 520335
46286 24/06/2023 NCI Exmouth NCI observed yacht at anchor in channel, possible engine failure. HMCG informed. Fishing vessel undertook tow back to mooring. NCI No Yes n/a
46294 24/06/2023 NCI Torbay MOP införmed NCI os a shout for help , visibility zero due to fog. HMCG informed, CRT tasked and spoke to informant. AWLB and ILB tasked and assisted paddle boarders in distress in fog. NCI Yes Yes 520093
46297 24/06/2023 NCI Charmouth HMCG called NCI re. report of inflatable kayak with 2 adults and 2 children on board lost in fog. NCI just had visual, and monitored until they came ashore. All safe, CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 520028
46277 23/06/2023 NCI Hengistbury Head HMCG requested NCI join search for injured MOP. Casualty found by CRT, ILB stood down. ambulance recovered casualty. MOP handed belongings of casualty to NCI, CG informed. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 519803
46278 23/06/2023 NCI Exmouth Yacht called on VHF to advise it had engine failure and was under tow. Engine resorted, then failed again and tow restarted by fishing vessel. HMCG informed. Casualty towed to mooring. NCI No Yes 519825
46283 23/06/2023 NCI Froward Point NCI observed RIB being towed by second RIB. Towing RIB then left the first to paddle back to river mouth, no lifejackets. HMCG informed. RIB then moved out of view, and harbour authority asked , for details so they could investigate. Rope cleared from prop. CG then informed the prop had cleared and casualty was making way up river, river officer in attendance. NCI No Yes 519840
46262 22/06/2023 NCI Brancaster NCI observed what was thought to be inflatable with 1 MOP on board. HMCG informed, CRT and ILB tasked, however casualty was a damaged channel buoy on its side. NCI Yes Yes 519672
46275 22/06/2023 NCI Rame Head Vessel called HMCG re. engine failure. CG issued Pan Pan. NCI informed CG they had visual, and gave accurate position. 2 RN RIBs and dive boat attended, and dive boat towed casualty to berth in river., Pan Pan cancelled. MCA/HMCG No Yes 519669
46282 22/06/2023 NCI Nells Point NCI observed 2 inflatables, 2 adults and 2 children no lifejackets, being blown onto rocks. Unable to reach beach. HMCG informed, NCI asked to monitor. Casualties climbed over rocks to self rescue, , CG informed. NCI No Yes n/a
46284 22/06/2023 NCI Froward Point NCI observed RIB, 2 POB, no lifejackets, head due south for 2 miles. HMCG informed, NCI asked to monitor. RIB moved from buoy to buoy, CG asked nearby vessel to investigate., No concern reported, CG advised, RIB began to return, NFA. NCI No Yes n/a
46254 21/06/2023 NCI Mablethorpe NCI observed canoe heading to trawler. Large package handed to trawler. HMCG informed, canoe returned to shore. CRT tasked, investigated, and it was confirmed to be a delivery of food. NCI No Yes 519442
46259 21/06/2023 NCI Teignmouth NCI observed 3 paddle boarders in difficulty, accompanied by 2 snorkelers. Unable to contact lifeguards, so informed HMCG. CG informed LGs who launched jetski. Casualties recovered to beach. NCI No Yes 519448
46337 21/06/2023 NCI Polruan Off duty W/K reported to NCI swimmers in navigation channel. NCI tried phoning harbour office, and patrol vessel - no reply. Ferry departed and was well clear of swimmers - NFA NCI No No n/a
46246 21/06/2023 NCI Hengistbury Head HMCG called NCI re. call from MOP about clothes on beach with no-one in sight. NCI did search, and saw surfer lying on board. Surfer appeared to be struggling. Sea mist then rolled in, so nothing further could be done due to visibility. MCA/HMCG No Yes 519424
46242 20/06/2023 NCI Newhaven HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of windsurfer possibly in difficulty. NCI had visual, and would monitor. casualty made way back to beach without problem, CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 519332

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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