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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 48260 | 30/11/2023 | NCI Shoreham | HMCG asked NCI for visual on possible MOP in the water. Search revealed several birds plus a black marker buoy in location. ILB tasked but found nothing else. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 543493 |
| 48259 | 29/11/2023 | NCI Skegness | MOP approached station and said she had been threatened by MOP with a knife. Police then asked NCI for CCTV footage of incident, which they then examined next day. | Police | No | No | n/a |
| 48234 | 27/11/2023 | NCI Mundesley | NCI Cromer contacted NCI Mundesley re MOP reporting suspected mine. NCI contacted HMCG who tasked CRT to investigate - found upturned cooking pot | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 543103 |
| 48229 | 25/11/2023 | NCI Hornsea | NCI Hornsea contacted HMCG re severe weather damaged promenade - CG tasked CRT who were unable to effect repair | NCI | No | Yes | 543007 |
| 48209 | 24/11/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | HMCG Tasked NCI Prawle Point to make visual for Sloop last reported 23/11/23 - informed HMCG nothing found or had been logged | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 542908 |
| 48213 | 24/11/2023 | NCI Needles | HMCG contacted NCI Needles re Mayday from YBS aground - casualty not visible as too close to shore. AWLB tasked to recover and escort to harbour, . | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 542932 |
| 48215 | 24/11/2023 | NCI Bass Point | HMCG contacted NCI Bass Point requesting visual watch/ search for YBS last reported off Lizard. NCI contacted HMCG YBS matching description observed off Bass Point. CG reported that contact had been , made and stood NCI down. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 542908 |
| 48205 | 23/11/2023 | NCI Rame Head | HMCG Counter Pollution Unit Contacted NCI Rame Head and tasked them to make visual search over a wreck off Rame Head. IFV found to be over wreck, NCI tel CG Counter Pollution with full details of, vessel. CG concerned about equipment on wreck. CG thanked NCI Rame Head for info | MCA/HMCG | No | No | 535341 |
| 48199 | 22/11/2023 | NCI Nells Point | MOP reported concern for 2 swimmers to HMCG. NCI requested to monitor. Both swimmers reached beach safely.CG informed, NFA. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 542711 |
| 48201 | 22/11/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | NCI Prwle Point observed trawler in area of forbidden fishing - nets clearly visible. Photo evidence sent to IFCA who will invetigate | NCI | No | No | N/A |
| 48191 | 19/11/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | NCI observed a wind surfer in difficulty, HMCG informed. casualties friend said they had contacted activity centre, who were arranging a RIB to assist. CG tasked ILB and CRT. Casualty then seen to be , ashore, CG informed. ILB contacted NCI for update. All assets stood down. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 542445 |
| 48159 | 15/11/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | HMCG contacted NCI re. missing wind surfer, reported by MOP. CRT tasked, NCI carried out search and saw 1 windsurfer, with sail up, and nothing else. Informant contacted and said they had mistaken, the windsurfer for a jet ski lane marker buoy. Assets stood down. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 542074 |
| 48152 | 14/11/2023 | NCI Hornsea | NCI observed 2 MOP + dog cut off by tide. HMCG informed, CRT tasked. CRT then spoke to another MOP who had seen 2 persons and dog getting into a car, covered in mud and soaking wet. NFA. | NCI | No | Yes | 541979 |
| 48154 | 14/11/2023 | NCI Gorleston | HMCG informed NCI a swimmer had been reported to be going out to sea beyond breakwater. Pilot vessel tasked to search, NCI did not have visual. Other vessel asked to search, ILB tasked. Nothing seen., All assets stood down, and assumed object could have been a seal. | UK Border Force | Yes | Yes | 541951 |
| 48174 | 14/11/2023 | NCI Gorleston | MOP informed NCI a teenager was sitting on bridge, feet on the river side. HMCG informed. CRT and ILB talked casualty back to safety, and casualty returned home. NFA | MMO | Yes | Yes | 541957 |
| 48120 | 12/11/2023 | NCI Charmouth | HMCG issued MayDay re. capsized boat. CG asked NCI for weather conditions and visual on vessel - negative. ILB tasked, and recovered 2 casualties. All well. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 541749 |
| 48127 | 12/11/2023 | NCI Stone Point | Yacht ran aground close to lookout, HMCG advised NCI had visual. 2 local LBs attended, and set a Kedge anchor, to await rise in tide. LBs departed, leaving casualty vessel to wait for tide. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 541767 |
| 48124 | 11/11/2023 | NCI Wells-next-the-Sea | MOP informed NCI that someone with a dog was cut off by tide. HMCG informed, NCI reassured casualty help was on the way. ILB tasked, and recovered casualty and dog to shore, all safe. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 541608 |
| 48129 | 11/11/2023 | NCI Southend | NCI observed 2 kite surfers in difficulty. HMCG informed. Casualties drifting towards shipping channel. CRT tasked, and position confirmed by NCI. ILB tasked, HELO also in attendance. ILB recovered, casualties to shore, having been conned onto casualties by NCI. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 541548 |
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.
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