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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47441 | 11/09/2023 | NCI Needles | NCI received a call re. MOP with possible cardiac episode. W/K attended with defibrillator, radio & mobile. 999 called, patients wife gave appropriate medicine. 2 ambulances arrived, patient stable., Casualty taken to hospital. | NCI | No | No | Am2016 |
| 47405 | 09/09/2023 | NCI Gosport | Harbour Master requested harbour patrol and MOD police launch assist a motor launch with loss of power. NCI asked to assist, and CG updated. Harbour patrol towed casualty to marina. All safe. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 203570 |
| 47407 | 09/09/2023 | NCI Wooltack Point | Dive boat reported 2 divers missing. NCI called HMCG - casualties not visible. 3 vessels responded and AWLB tasked. Dive RIB and jetski located missing divers and picked them up. All safe. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 203628 |
| 47413 | 09/09/2023 | NCI Polruan | Sailing vessel called harbour patrol to report engine failure, but comms bad. NCI liaised with harbour patrol and called HMCG, detailing nearby vessels. CG called for assistance on CH16 and, second vessel towed casualty to port and safety. | NCI | No | Yes | 203713 |
| 47417 | 09/09/2023 | NCI Fleetwood | NCI observed 2 MOP and dog in danger of being cut off by tide. HMCG informed, CRT tasked, and escorted casualties back to shore. | NCI | No | Yes | 203653 |
| 47418 | 09/09/2023 | NCI Fleetwood | NCI observed 2 MOP in danger of being cut off by tide. HMCG informed, CRT tasked and escorted casualties back to shore. | MMO | No | Yes | 203722 |
| 47404 | 08/09/2023 | NCI Hornsea | A lone sailor was trying to return to his moored vessel in zero visibility, rowing a small inflatable with diesel and prrafin aboard. No radio and no phone signal. HMCG asked CRT to intervene, but he , would not listen, so local LB was tasked to get him safely to his vessel. He then called CG on VHF. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 534227 |
| 47370 | 07/09/2023 | NCI Nells Point | NCI observed swimmer making no progress against current. HMCG informed, swimmer called by hailer, but in rip current. ILB tasked, nearby vessel alerted. ILB conned onto casualty, who was recovered. | NCI | No | Yes | 533978 |
| 47375 | 07/09/2023 | NCI Filey | MOP informed NCI a person had fallen. W/K attended, ambulance called by MOP but as casualty was getting worse NCI called 999. Ambulance crew escorted to casualty, and casualty taken to hospital. | NCI | No | Yes | 533969 |
| 47346 | 06/09/2023 | NCI Brancaster | MOP informed NCI there was a hypochlorite container washed up on beach, lid intact and some contents. HMCG informed, and local council contacted to remove container. N.T ranger arranger removal. | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 47352 | 06/09/2023 | NCI Lyme Bay | MOP informed NCI a gentleman had fallen from 3 metre cliff. Ambulance had been called. Paramedics assessed patient, who had cuts to limbs and abrasions on back. Discharged by paramedics. | NCI | No | Yes | 533718 |
| 47353 | 06/09/2023 | NCI Exmouth | NCI observed a swimmer drifting in falling tide, in mid channel. LGs informed, jetski deployed and returned casualty to shore. HMCG informed. | NCI | No | Yes | 533585 |
| 47359 | 06/09/2023 | NCI Newhaven | Pan Pan from HMCG re. broken down speedboat, NCI asked for visual - negative. NCI stood down and assumed vessel towed to safety. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 533804 |
| 47363 | 06/09/2023 | NCI Charmouth | HMCG called NCI to request visual cofirmation of rock fall reported by FV. Details conformed by NCI. CRT, ILB and HELO all checked situation, NFA. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 533721 |
| 47385 | 05/09/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG contacted NCI re. report from MOP about swimmers in difficulty. Visual requested, ILB tasked. Initial visual negative, ILB searched with negative results, and while out checked wing surfer - fine | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 533515 |
| 47387 | 05/09/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG tasked ILB to 8 swimmers in RIP current, LGs attending. NCI had visual, patched link to CG. 2 ILBs attended, and recovered swimmers, also checked 2 paddle boarders - fine. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 533525 |
| 47393 | 05/09/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI monitored cabin cruiser entering channel. ILB also present and reported vessel had run aground., 2 POB. Attempted to tow off, and requested larger ILB with pump. NCI had visual, Vessel then, had to wait for next tide, NCI monitored until afloat, all safe and no damage. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 533541 |
| 47341 | 05/09/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | HMCG called NCI re. 2 broken down jet skis on beach waiting for LB. NCI had visual - not in danger. ILB attended, CRT attending. One driver had injured knee. CRT drove one, and owner drove second, as they were towed from surf line. ILB then towed both jet skis to slipway, all safe. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 533559 |
| 47324 | 04/09/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | NCI observed a motor cruiser aground. HMCG informed. 1 POB, no lifejacket. NCI asked to monitor. Vessel then refloated and seen to move to deeper water, CG informed. | NCI | No | Yes | 533149 |
| 47333 | 04/09/2023 | NCI Porthdinllaen | NCI observed a kayak, 2 POB, in difficulty with wind and tide, HMCG informed, AWLB tasked, and towed the casualty to shore. All safe. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 533262 |
| 47315 | 04/09/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | HMCG issued MayDay re. 2 swimmers in distress. Activity centre RIB advised CG they had rescued 2 swimmers and taken them to LB station. LB station advised CG they were in their care, and fine. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 533153 |
| 47383 | 04/09/2023 | NCI Penzance | Paddle Boarder called NCI to say he was travelling past, aware of sea state and very experienced. HMCG tasked ILB after report from MOP re Paddle Boarder in trouble. NCI informed CG of previous call. , ILB tasked, and met Paddle Boarder and told all was well. ILB stood down. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 533256 |
| 47319 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI observed person on Lilo drifting out to sea. HMCG informed, visual link established. Friend explained person involved could not swim, and had been drinking. CG updated. ILB tasked, and , recovered casualty. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 533025 |
| 47320 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI observed 2 persons on a paddle board struggling against tide. HMCG informed, camera link established. Persons then went into water and tried to swim ashore. ILB tasked, nearby cabin cruiser asked , to assist. ILB recovered casualties, then NCI observed 2 more paddle boarders, which ILB was asked to check. Second group reached shore safely. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 533064 |
| 47287 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | Yacht reported engine failure. NCI gave HMCG position, and advised casualty was under tow from a second vessel into port. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 532879 |
| 47291 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Brancaster | NCI observed 2 paddle boarders struggling to return to shore. HMCG informed, prepared to task assets, but casualties self rescued before assets deployed. | NCI | No | Yes | 532890 |
| 47297 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | HMCG called NCI re. dory adrift - asked to monitor. Vessel restarted engine, NCI monitored it back to safety go harbour. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 532926 |
| 47299 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | HMCG called NCI re, yacht drifting too close to shore. NCI asked to monitor. Vessel corrected course - NCI stood down. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 532927 |
| 47302 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Whitstable | NCI observed swimmer struggling against tide. HMCG informed. Swimmer altered direction and reached shore safely, CG informed. | NCI | No | Yes | 533000 |
| 47303 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Nare Point | HMCG issued Pan Pan re. yacht with engine failure concerned about drifting onto rocks. Vessel had no VHF. NCI had visual, other vessels attempted tow, but difficult swell. Eventually casualty towed , into safety of river. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 532909 |
| 47304 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Nells Point | HMCG alerted CRT to 3-4 MOP cut off by tide. NCI had visual. CRT assisted casualties up rocks, ILB cancelled. Helimed tasked, then stood down. 2 casualties taken to hospital. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 533044 |
| 47360 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Cromer | Person observed floating in water face down. LG brought casualty ashoreNCI offered assistance. HMCG asked NCI for update, and asked to monitor. Casualty taken off beach by ambulance. | RNLI | No | Yes | 532992 |
| 47305 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Gosport | Vessel with 20 POB advised HMCG of engine failure. Possible contaminated fuel. Engine restarted and NCI monitored progress until it reached marina. All safe. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 533014 |
| 47314 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | NCI observed 2 paddle boarders struggling through mud on hands and knees. HMCG informed. Casualties eventually self rescued, CG informed. | NCI | No | Yes | 533040 |
| 47318 | 03/09/2023 | NCI Shoreham | NCI observed 3 Paddle Boarders struggling against tide. Used loudhailer to advise. HMCG informed, ILB tasked, and recovered casualties to safety. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 533058 |
| 47281 | 02/09/2023 | NCI Boscastle | NCI observed yacht potentially running aground due to very low tide. HMCG informed, and attempts to contact vessel failed. NCI then used Ch16 to contact vessel, no response but course altered suddenly, Still no radio response, but vessel continued on safe course. | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 47285 | 02/09/2023 | NCI Gwennap Head | NCI heard message from FV to HMCG re. upturned kayak on rocks, person holding onto it. Updated to say kayak now in water, person clinging on. Not visible from NCI. AWLB tasked, CG requested , NCI monitor FV and LB. Casualty recovered position and paddled to FV, and taken onboard. NCI conned LB to FV, casualty transferred and returned to shore. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 532683 |
| 47286 | 02/09/2023 | NCI Swanage | HMCG called RE. report from MOP of kayak in difficulty. NCI reported a RIB was in attendance, casualty recovered to safety. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 532689 |
| 47337 | 02/09/2023 | NCI Nare Point | NCI observed a yellow object, possible lifebelt, going out with tide. HMCG informed. Vessels nearby requested to search for object. Object finally landed ashore - identified as a punctured buoy. , Object to be removed. | NCI | No | Yes | 532598 |
| 47274 | 02/09/2023 | NCI Lyme Bay | HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of possible missing swimmer. Search revealed nothing, FV also in area, but swimmer reported to be safe on beach. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 532588 |
Currently almost 60 NCI 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.
NCI 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 NCI 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