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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46644 | 16/07/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | MOP called NCI re. jetski broken down, 2 POB waving arms. NCI did not have visual, but informed HMCG. ILB already on exercise. NCI then spotted casualty, and gave details to CG. ILB took jetski under , tow to safety. All safe. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 523921 |
| 46647 | 16/07/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG called NCI re. call from MOP concerned about a wind surfer. NCI asked to carry out search, but nothing of concern seen. Eventually it was decided the object of concern was a buoy. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 523910 |
| 46713 | 16/07/2023 | NCI Needles | NCI Overheard radio message - 'Man Overboard', no May Day heard. HMCG did not respond, so NCI phoned them. CG contacted vessel, and they reported casualty had been recovered by other vessel. | NCI | No | Yes | 523862 |
| 46632 | 15/07/2023 | NCI Exmouth | Solo paddle boarder, well equipped, informed NCI of plan to travel to Exmouth. Not seen by NCI so HMCG informed. monitoring requested. LGs reported safe arrival. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 523733 |
| 46633 | 15/07/2023 | NCI St Ives | NCI observed paddle boarder (no paddle) crossing bay. MOP expressed concern. NCI contacted LGs, but not visible to them. HMCG informed. PB arrived safely, CG informed NCI and LGs. | NCI | No | Yes | 523747 |
| 46634 | 15/07/2023 | NCI Worms Head | NCI observed 2 MOP cut off by tide. HMCG informed, casualties not distressed. NCI then had call from 2 more MOP also cut off, CG informed. Sea state too rough for D class ILB - suggested casualties, remain until tide recedes. Atlantic ILB tasked, and recovered all 4 casualties in 2 trips. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 52745 |
| 46640 | 14/07/2023 | NCI Penzance | HMCG called NCI re. MOP call concerned for 20 swimmers. CG advised NCI did not have visual, but camera trained on area. Nothing seen. CRT tasked, and gave advice to swimmers | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 523608 |
| 46611 | 14/07/2023 | NCI Cape Cornwall | NCI overheard a message from HMCG tasking AWLB and ILB to look for 3 MOP cut off in bay. CRT also tasked. CRT contacted casualties, one injured and one panic attack. NCI gave weather report., HELO then tasked to evacuate casualties to land ambulance. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 523638 |
| 46610 | 14/07/2023 | NCI Newhaven | NCI heard message re. vessel engine failure. HMCG informed NCI had visual. Marina vessel conned onto casualty by NCI, and took it under tow to harbour and safety. | NCI | No | Yes | 523595 |
| 46616 | 14/07/2023 | NCI Canvey Island | Police requested NCI assist in search for vulnerable youth. Extensive search with cameras revealed nothing. Also physical search of marsh area. Station closed at dark. | Police | Yes | Yes | POL817 |
| 46576 | 13/07/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | MayDay from yacht - Man Overboard. ILB x 2 tasked, NCI inform HMCG they had visual. ILB recovered casualty, transferred to HELO and taken to hospital. Vessel taken to harbour, MayDay terminated. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 523469 |
| 46581 | 13/07/2023 | NCI Filey | NCI observed kayak capsize, occurs and unable to right vessel. casualties son trying to help but struggling. HMCG informed, ILB tasked. ILB recovered both father and son to safety. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 523487 |
| 46530 | 12/07/2023 | NCI Worms Head | NCI observed an unmanned RIB with motor attached on rocks. HMCG informed, CRT tasked. AWLB and ILB also tasked, then stood down as vessel deemed to have broken mooring., Trailer and tarp still attached to vessel. Vessel unable to be recovered at that time. | NCI | No | Yes | 523174 |
| 46544 | 12/07/2023 | NCI Needles | Pan Pan from yacht with smoking electrical equipment. NCI had visual, and asked by HMCG to monitor. Vessel then reported situation under control, heading back to port. Pan Pan cancelled. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 523314 |
| 46565 | 12/07/2023 | NCI Stone Point | NCI reported to HMCG a wind surfer in difficulty. CG asked NCI to monitor. Casualty reached beach, mast had snapped, CG informed. | NCI | No | Yes | 523306 |
| 46566 | 12/07/2023 | NCI Boscastle | NCI observed an unmanned inflatable, with oars, drifting. HMCG informed, Monitoring continued until lost from sight, no persons seen. ILB tasked, but could not locate dinghy, AWLB tasked., NCI then spotted tender and conned ILB onto it for recovery. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 523316 |
| 46567 | 12/07/2023 | NCI Wells-next-the-Sea | Police contacted NCI re. Missing person, asked for search. HMCG also contacted NCI. Later reported the MISPER had been found | Police | No | Yes | 523334 |
| 46571 | 12/07/2023 | NCI Teignmouth | NCI observed a broken down jetski, rider in water. LG contacted and attended with their jetski but unable to tow. HMCG initially did not task ILB, but when drifted towards rocks, ILB tasked, and towed, casualty to safety of harbour. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 523364 |
| 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 |
| 46525 | 10/07/2023 | NCI Gwennap Head | Large cargo vessel reported loss of engine power, and drifting towards Wolf Rock. AWLB x 2 tasked, NCI asked for visual monitoring. Vessel ran aground, then refloated, but reported damage to ballast , tanks. HELO also on scene. Tug requested for a tow to harbour, LBs stand by until tow under way. NCI stood down. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 523003 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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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