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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47103 | 20/08/2023 | NCI Mablethorpe | Police received message re. MISPER while at NCI. Search carried out. Advised not to approach if seen. Police then informed NCI MISPER had been found and returned home. NFA | Police | No | No | POL160 |
| 47104 | 20/08/2023 | NCI Mablethorpe | RNLI requested assistance from NCI to identify a white object heading north. NCI unable to get visual. ILB tasked, and searched for MISPERS, also CRT. 2 inflatable objects seen. , No Person involved. | RNLI | Yes | Yes | 357091 |
| 47106 | 20/08/2023 | NCI Torbay | NCI received call from HMCG re. open career on Ch 16. Asked to listen for background sounds, which continued until watch closed. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 530300 |
| 47075 | 20/08/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | Yacht issued a Pan Pan - stuck on pots. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. Fishing vessel called to say they were caught on their pots. AWLB tasked, however yacht freed itself and proceeded onward. , Next NCI station informed. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 530156 |
| 47194 | 20/08/2023 | NCI Bembridge | NCI observed kayaker detached from his kayak, and having difficulty swimming ashore. HMCG informed. Casualty eventually reached shore, CG kept updated. No assets required. | NCI | No | Yes | 530180 |
| 47082 | 20/08/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | NCI heard MayDay from yacht which was towing a windsurfer with a broken mast. Towline had fouled propellor. Windsurfer in the water and unable to get on board. Tow continued under sail but assistance , requested. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. Downgraded to Pan Pan, vessel offered assistance but ILB tasked, recovered casualty, NCI lost visual. All safe, NFA | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 530238 |
| 47092 | 20/08/2023 | NCI Folkestone | NCI observed a suspicious package in the sea. HMCG informed. Border Force tasked, and NCI conned them onto object. Item was a whiskey barrel, which they recovered to dispose of. | NCI | No | Yes | UKBF |
| 47264 | 19/08/2023 | NCI Needles | NCI reported to HMCG a yacht was aground. 4 POB with lifejackets. AWLB tasked, NCI monitored situation. LB sent RIB to assess, and decided to leave to refloat on tide. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 529997 |
| 47077 | 19/08/2023 | NCI Nells Point | MOP informed HMCG 3 - 4 wind surfers were in difficulty. NCI asked to scan and report. Incident not visible from station, then informant told CG casualties were safely ashore. NFA | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 529885 |
| 47090 | 19/08/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | NCI observed a swimmer trying to retrieve a ball, tide and wind against. HMCG informed, local LB tasked, casualty recovered and returned to shore. CG informed, NFA | NCI | Yes | Yes | 529926 |
| 47057 | 18/08/2023 | NCI Torbay | HMCG called NCI re. possible suicide attempt. Visual not possible due to poor visibility. CRT tasked, also PCSO. Casualty removed from sea, by CRT, ILB also requested, then stood down. , Casualty taken in ambulance for treatment. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 529703 |
| 47052 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Lyme Bay | HMCG called NCI for visual on kayaker reported to be in difficulty. Visual established, and kayaker appeared okay. Monitoring continued, kayaker disappeared from view, then returned and went ashore. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 529591 |
| 47056 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Torbay | HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of inflatable, 2 POB, in difficulty. Nothing seen. CRT and ILB tasked.ILB found green rubber ring, but nothing else, assets stood down. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 529620 |
| 47058 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Canvey Island | HMCG called NCI re report from MOP of paddle boarder in difficulty. Nothing seen by NCI. NCI then saw LiLo - CG informed. ILB tasked, and conned onto LiLo by NCI, which was recovered. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 529501 |
| 47059 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | Police asked NCI for help to locate MISPER. HELO searching. HMCG informed of search. Search ongoing when station closed, casualty later found inland. | Police | Yes | Yes | POL896 |
| 47061 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Mundesley | Yacht called HMCG losing engine power, Pan Pan issued. 1 POB. NCI had visual, CG informed. CG checked that no immediate assistance required. Vessel left NCI area without assistance. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | n/a |
| 47070 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Penzance | HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP concerned about 2 paddle boarders. NCI replied that it was 2 persons in an inflatable, which they had been monitoring. ILB tasked and confirmed all was well. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 529554 |
| 47072 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Exmouth | LG observed floating object, NCI had visual - large cylinder. Harbourmaster informed, HMCG informed, ILB tasked. Identified as buoy from mussel farm, and towed to marina by ILB. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| 47073 | 17/08/2023 | NCI Porthdinllaen | MOP reported to NCI a waterski boat was close to swimmers. HMCG informed, advised NCI to call police. Police said they would try to identify culprits, but could not confirm attendance. | NCI | No | Yes | 131434 |
| 47039 | 16/08/2023 | NCI Torbay | Harbour authority contacted NCI re. report from MOP of a fridge/freezer floating in sea. Extensive search revealed nothing. Various vessels also searched but nothing found. | NCI | No | No | n/a |
| 47040 | 16/08/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | MOP called NCI to say she had fallen in a pothole and injured her ankle. Request to inform Rangers of pothole - already aware. Ranger attended casualty, recovered her in vehicle and took her to A&E. | NCI | No | No | n/a |
| 47025 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Brancaster | HMCG asked NCI for visual looking for 3 children reported missing on island. ILB and CRT tasked. MISPERs found by mobile unit and reunited with parents. All well. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 529801 |
| 47026 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | Motor launch broke down and attempted to make way using auxiliary engine. NCI informed HMCG. Other vessels attempted tow, until ILB arrived and took over tow into harbour. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 529103 |
| 47060 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Mundesley | MOP reported to NCI lost child, but gave no detail. LGs unable to be contacted, outcome unknown - assumed to be safe. | RNLI | No | No | n/a |
| 47027 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Hornsea | NCI observed empty rubber dinghy drifting. HMCG informed, local ILB tasked. Dinghy washed ashore and was recovered by W\K. CG informed, LB stood down. Dinghy deflated. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 529044 |
| 47028 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Worms Head | NCI observed 6 MOP cut off as causeway closed, HMCG informed. 4 casualties stayed in island, 2 tried to wade ashore. Siren deployed. CG updated. Those wading returned to island, ILB tasked , and recovered all 6 in 2 trips. CRT met them on shore. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 529069 |
| 47034 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Charlestown | NCI received call from Motor vessel with engine failure. HMCG informed, and issued Pan Pan. RIB assisted, CG informed NCI, and casualty was towed to safety of harbour by RIB. | NCI | No | Yes | 529087 |
| 47036 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Shoreham | NCI observed a wind surfer in difficulty. HMCG informed. The casualty then appeared to get upright and reached the beach, CG informed. NFA | NCI | No | Yes | 529107 |
| 47037 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | MOP reported to NCI a swim buoy, no sign of swimmer. Visual established, HMCG informed. Swimmer seen on steps, who confirmed the buoy was his, and car keys and phone was with buoy. , CG updated, spare keys collected, and MOP later handed buoy into NCI - owner contacted. | NCI | No | Yes | 529124 |
| 47038 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Filey | HMCG called NCI re. MOP report of abandoned inflatable drifting out to sea. NCI established visual, dinghy with 1 POB which returned to beach without concern. | Fire | No | Yes | 529036 |
| 47041 | 15/08/2023 | NCI Rhoscolyn | NCI heard radio call to HMCG re. MOP with medical emergency. Visual negative, but off duty W/K who lived nearby attended. Casualty slipping into coma, nurse attending. HMCG tasked HELO and, casualty was airlifted to hospital. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 529032 |
| 47019 | 14/08/2023 | NCI Brancaster | NCI observed 2 paddle boarders in difficulty returning to shore. Family member approached NCI, and confirmed they had contacted HMCG. Casualties eventually reached shore before LB tasked. | NCI | No | Yes | 528875 |
| 47023 | 14/08/2023 | NCI Exmouth | HMCG called NCI re. report of 3 persons on 1 paddle board asking for visual. Not visible to NCI and situation ongoing as station closed. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 528906 |
| 47018 | 13/08/2023 | NCI Mablethorpe | NCI observed a floating inflatable flamingo, no persons evident. HMCG informed, ILB tasked, and conned onto object by NCI. When retrieved, no persons found, and no-one reported missing. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 528698 |
| 47042 | 12/08/2023 | NCI Felixstowe | NCI observed a yacht aground. HMCG informed. Passing vessels unable to assist. CRT tasked, yacht not in immediate danger. Pan Pan issued. CRT stood down. As tide came in, skipper expressed concern, vessel was being pushed into trouble, so ILB tasked and towed the vessel to safety. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 528499 |
| 46996 | 12/08/2023 | NCI Lyme Bay | MOP handed in a live bullet (5.56mm) to NCI, found on beach. HMCG informed. Police collected item from lookout. This is a continuation from I/R 46912, dated 06/08. , Further bullets handed in over next days. | NCI | No | Yes | 528463 |
| 46997 | 12/08/2023 | NCI Brancaster | Reporter on prearranged visit to NCI collapsed outside the lookout. W/K attended casualty, who lost consciousness briefly. 999 call to ambulance. Casualty appeared to recover slightly, was taken into , lookout, but then collapsed again. Ambulance arrived, and casualty taken to hospital for tests. HMCG informed of events, CRT had been tasked but cancelled. | NCI | No | Yes | 528468 |
| 47004 | 12/08/2023 | NCI Whitstable | MOP reported to NCI concern for 2 kayaks a long way offshore. HMCG informed. NCI did not have visual. ILB tasked to investigate. kayakers located and not in difficulty. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 528473 |
| 47005 | 12/08/2023 | NCI Newhaven | NCI observed 2 fishermen on breakwater, which was closed to public, in danger from waves. HMCG informed, and requested to monitor. Situation was no better so CRT tasked, and escorted them off. | NCI | No | Yes | 528576 |
| 46979 | 11/08/2023 | NCI St Ives | NCI observed a paddle boarder in difficulty with offshore wind and ebbing tide. HMCG informed, casualty showed signs of needing help. LGs tasked and helped casualty to shore. | NCI | No | Yes | 528348 |
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
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0845 460 1202
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Cornwall, PL14 4AB