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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 46426 | 03/07/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | HMCG asked NCI for visual on capsized catamaran - affirmative. Vessel righted by crew, CG informed, ILB escorted vessel to safety, NCI monitored situation | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 521717 |
| 46427 | 03/07/2023 | NCI Torbay | NCI observed a trackside fire, phoned Fire Brigade, who were just arriving on scene. HMCG informed as courtesy | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 46451 | 03/07/2023 | NCI Swanage | HMCG called NCI requesting a visual search for paddle boarders - negative. Lookout closed, but S.M. then was asked to return and continue search - still negative and light forced close down., One casualty was later found safe , and second had swum ashore and his deflated PB found near Hengistbury HeadI. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 521765 |
| 46411 | 02/07/2023 | NCI Hornsea | NCI observed 2 adults + 1 child adrift on jetski. HMCG informed, local LB tasked. Flare set off. NCI conned LB to casualty, which took persons aboard and towed jetski to shore. All safe. | NCI | No | Yes | 521576 |
| 46413 | 02/07/2023 | NCI Charmouth | Heritage centre reported to NCI a landslide, casualties unknown. HMCG informed. Fossil hunters had reported a problem. CRT area taped off area to east. | NCI | No | Yes | 521536 |
| 46424 | 02/07/2023 | NCI Southend | NCI observed paddle boarder in difficulty. HMCG informed. ILB tasked and was conned to casualty by NCI. ILB recovered casualty and returned to beach. All safe. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 521563 |
| 46429 | 02/07/2023 | NCI Exmouth | Pan Pan from yacht with broken mast. NCI confirmed to HMCG vessel still upright. Harbour Master and AWLB arrived on scene. Vessel carried on under power. Mast sunk and marked by buoy., Pan Pan cancelled | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 521564 |
| 46399 | 02/07/2023 | NCI Stone Point | NCI observed wind surfer sitting on board, unable to raise sail. HMCG informed, Pan Pan issued. Local LB responded, casualty requested help. Casualty then appeared to sail ashore, W/K spoke to , casualty who was fine. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 521568 |
| 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 |
| 47192 | 01/07/2023 | NCI Bembridge | NCI observed a catamaran in Round Island race capsize. 6 persons in water and 2 on hull. ILB tasked, plus 2 safety RIBs. Casualties recovered and taken to LB station, attended by paramedics., NCI monitored unsecured hull, which was anchored by support boats. | NCI | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| 46417 | 01/07/2023 | NCI Nare Point | HMCG called NCI re. flare seen. NCI gave names of vessels in area. Pan Pan issued, ILB tasked, divers fro dive charter removed rope from prop, ILB stood down, Pan Pan cancelled. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 521343 |
| 46485 | 01/07/2023 | NCI Needles | NCI observed catamaran capsize. AWLB and ILB informed via Ch0. 2 in water. AWLB called away, ILB took on 2 casualties, and third recovered from upturned hull. Vessel drifting so NAV warning issued. | NCI | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| 46368 | 01/07/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | Catamaran capsized, NCI had visual. AWLB tasked, also local LB, assisted casualty. Needles NCI also involved. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 521250 |
| 46438 | 01/07/2023 | NCI Charlestown | NCI observed canoe, 3 POB fishing, no lifejackets, and unconcerned they were drifting and approaching bad weather. HMCG informed. Situation worsened, CG informed, AWLB tasked., LB recovered casualties and returned them to shore. All safe. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 521409 |
| 46371 | 01/07/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | NCI detected a MOB alarm, HMCG informed. Position corresponded to moving yacht, CG informed. Vessel heading up river, harbour master informed. No reported injuries. | NCI | No | Yes | 521341 |
| 46387 | 01/07/2023 | NCI Charmouth | NCI heard messages re. walkers cut off by tide, location uncertain. NCI searched and gave location. CRT already tasked. Single casualty identified, and was no longer in danger, ILB checked for others , Negative | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 531368 |
| 46457 | 01/07/2023 | NCI St Donat's Bay | RNLI LGs called NCI requesting visual search for MOP on cliffs, trying to rescue dog which had fallen. Visual confirmed, casualty self rescued, met by LGs. CRT and AWLb tasked to search for dog., Nothing found, assets stood down, dog found dead next day, washed up by tide. | RNLI | Yes | Yes | 521399 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
General enquiries
0300 111 1202
Media enquiries
0845 460 1202
17 Dean Street, Liskeard,
Cornwall, PL14 4AB