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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46169 | 11/06/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI monitored wing surfer possibly in difficulty. HMCG informed - ILB tasked, and shadowed casualty back to shore and safety. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 517530 |
| 46134 | 10/06/2023 | NCI Mundesley | NCI observed a fight between 3 men close to lookout. Police informed on 999. Police arrived but men had dispersed. NFA | NCI | No | No | n/a |
| 46136 | 10/06/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | NCI heard call from HMCG to Police vessel re. vessel broken down. Police asked NCI for visual and were conned onto casualty. Police launch towed casualty to safety, and passed to second vessel. | Police | No | Yes | 517207 |
| 46410 | 10/06/2023 | NCI Needles | Pan Pan from motor launch with engine failure, at anchor. Tow requested NCI informed HMCG. Casualty then seen under tow to harbour, Pan Pan cancelled. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 517258 |
| 46158 | 10/06/2023 | NCI Nare Point | NCI heard HMCG tasking CRT to injured walker on rocks. NCI could not establish visual. ILB tasked but unable to extract casualty so HELO tasked and evacuated casualty. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| 46270 | 10/06/2023 | NCI Portland Bill | 5 divers reported missing from dive rib. Vessel and AWLB searched, and recovered all casualties. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 517323 |
| 46124 | 09/06/2023 | NCI Penzance | MOP informed NCI he found 2 sets of unattended clothing on beach. Search revealed no swimmers, CRT tasked. Police attended, ILB not required, owners reunited with clothing. NFA | NCI | No | Yes | 517035 |
| 46131 | 09/06/2023 | NCI Shoreham | MOP informed NCI paddle boarders were drifting, W/K asked if they needed help - affirmative. HMCG tasked ILB which recovered 2 casualties. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 517026 |
| 46135 | 09/06/2023 | NCI Teignmouth | NCI had concern for safety of kite surfer - HMCG informed, asked NCI to monitor and report. Concern continued but casualty eventually reached shore. | NCI | No | Yes | 516986 |
| 46140 | 09/06/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | HMCG tasked ILB and CRT to paddle board, 2 POB, struggling to get ashore. NCI had visual. casualties in water, unable to regain board. ILB recovered 2 persons, but not original casualties. Proceeded , to second two casualties and recovered all four to care of CRT. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 517084 |
| 46690 | 09/06/2023 | NCI Stepper Point | HMCG called NCI re. wind surfer in difficulty, asked for assistance. Harbour patrol RIB contacted who recovered casualty and returned them to harbour. All safe. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 517012 |
| 46119 | 09/06/2023 | NCI Calshot Tower | NCI observed yacht aground. RIB in attendance. Pan Pan issued, 5 POB, but vessel happy to wait for incoming tide. Vessel refloated on tide, Pan Pan cancelled. | NCI | No | Yes | 516982 |
| 46107 | 08/06/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI observed kite surfer in difficulty.HMCG informed, NCI monitored. Eventually casualty self rescued and was fine. | NCI | No | Yes | 516849 |
| 46109 | 08/06/2023 | NCI Worms Head | HMCG rang NCI re. group om causeway. NCI had visual. CRT tasked, one casualty was injured. CRT, LB, and HELO tasked, Casualty recovered by HELO. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 516880 |
| 46112 | 08/06/2023 | NCI Newhaven | MOP called lookout re. inflatable drifting out to sea, 4 POB. HMCG informed, AWLB tasked. Casualties and dinghy recovered by LB. All safe. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 516912 |
| 46115 | 08/06/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI observed a paddle board, 2 POB, struggling.HMCG informed, 2 jet skis attended and towed casualty back to shore. All safe. | NCI | No | Yes | 516897 |
| 46098 | 07/06/2023 | NCI Stone Point | MayDay from rescue RIB with 2 POB - engine failure and drifting. NCI had visual, HMCG informed. Yacht responded, NCI updated position. Yacht established tow and returned to harbour and safety. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 516670 |
| 46103 | 07/06/2023 | NCI Cape Cornwall | HMCG rang NCI re. report from MOP f kayaker possibly in trouble. NCI had visual, occupant fishing and known to W/Ks. No problem. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 516710 |
| 46104 | 07/06/2023 | NCI Lee-on-the-Solent | HMCG contact NCI re. windsurfer in difficulty. NCI had visual, ILB tasked and NCI conned onto casualty.Casualty returned to shore and safety | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 516711 |
| 46089 | 06/06/2023 | NCI Cape Cornwall | HMCG requested visual from NCI of a sailing vessel which had been in collision with fishing vessel. Visual established, casualty listing and no mast visible, CG informed. Monitoring requested., CG called casualty - no response heard by NCI. No POB or distress signals visible. Vessel continues, NCI stood down by CG. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 516511 |
| 46090 | 06/06/2023 | NCI Whitstable | NCI observed dead seal, HMCG informed. Local services removed seal, CG informed. | NCI | No | Yes | 516534 |
| 46114 | 06/06/2023 | NCI Portland Bill | NCI informed HMCG a yacht had fouled propeller. CG gave vessel Sea Start number. NCI monitored as casualty got back under way. | NCI | No | Yes | 516562 |
| 46074 | 05/06/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | MOP reported to NCI a MISPER with dementia. HMCG informed, CRT and ILB involved. Casualty was located safe and well, transferred to care of Police. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 516436 |
| 46075 | 05/06/2023 | NCI Gosport | NCI observed yacht aground, HMCG informed. NCI contacted vessel, skipper assured he was fine and would wait for tide to refloat. Anchor deployed, then refloated on rising tide and returned to harbour. | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 46086 | 05/06/2023 | NCI Nare Point | NCI observed a large buoy drifting - potential hazard to navigation. HMCG informed. CG contacted owner of mussel farm - he indicated no danger as soft - NCI thought otherwise. | NCI | No | Yes | 516437 |
| 46083 | 04/06/2023 | NCI Cromer | NCI observed a Rig flaring with smoke 20 miles away, not seen for the last 3 months. HMCG informed. No outcome. | NCI | No | Yes | 516191 |
| 46045 | 04/06/2023 | NCI Fleetwood | HMCG called NCI re. broken down motor launch. Visual established, ILB tasked, but could not undertake tow due to low water. 6 POB would remain on board to wait for tide and tow. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 516244 |
| 46049 | 04/06/2023 | NCI St Alban's Head | MayDay from yacht aground. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. - monitoring requested. AWLB tasked, vessel then refuted, and after damage check, proceeded on passage, | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 516231 |
| 46058 | 04/06/2023 | NCI Newhaven | HMCG requested assistance for dinghy with broken down engine. NCI had visual. Occupants paddling, no lifejackets.Yacht offers assistance, NCI conned to casualty. Casualty towed to beach and safety. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 516293 |
| 46061 | 04/06/2023 | NCI Nells Point | NCI informed HMCG 2 MOP cut off by tide on island. ILB tasked, recovered casualties to CRT on shore. Advice given. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 516292 |
| 46072 | 03/06/2023 | NCI Gosport | NCI observed 2 rowing boats in difficulty, one had capsized. 2 in water, on upturned boat. No lifejackets. H.M contacted, inbound vessel attended, NCI alerted people using hand signals., Police launch attended, HMCG broadcast MayDay relay. ILB also attended, casualties transferred to ambulance. | NCI | No | Yes | 515933 |
| 46030 | 03/06/2023 | NCI St Donat's Bay | NCI observed kayaker struggling against wind and tide. HMCG informed. LB tasked. CG asked any vessel to help. casualty then gave up and allowed tide to take them back, CG advised. Kayaker reached, shore, CRT spoke to casualty and HELO did sweep of bay. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 516104 |
| 46041 | 03/06/2023 | NCI Fleetwood | MOP informed HMCG a vessel had broken down. NCI observed vessel which had restarted - CG informed. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 515957 |
| 46044 | 03/06/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | MOP asked NCI for visual as he had a message from a friend with broken down vessel. Jetski sighted, HMCG informed, ILB tasked, NCI monitored. LB towed jetski to safety. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 516080 |
| 46051 | 03/06/2023 | NCI Southend | NCI observed yacht drifting and making no headway, 1 POB. No apparent distress. HMCG informed. Police RIB attended, and towed yacht to safe anchorage. | MMO | No | Yes | 515945 |
| 46056 | 03/06/2023 | NCI Rhoscolyn | NCI observed RIB and water skier static in water for 40 - 45 mins. HMCG informed. Visual maintained, and casualty eventually returned to shore and safety. | NCI | No | Yes | 515960 |
| 46059 | 03/06/2023 | NCI Shoreham | RNLI launch authority rang NCI re. 2 paddle boarders drifting - no visual .ILB tasked, and casualties recovered - no life aids so advice given by CRT | RNLI | Yes | Yes | 515930 |
| 46066 | 03/06/2023 | NCI Canvey Island | HMCG asked NCI for visual on yacht adrift - 1 POB + dog. Visual confirmed, CG informed, Police vessel tasked to tow casualty to safety | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | n/a |
| 46022 | 02/06/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | NCI found MOP who had fallen and injured ankle. Ambulance called on 999, HMCG informed. Ambulance called to say no ambulance until next day!. W/K authorised to transport casualty in private car., Casualty taken onward by family in car to hospital. | NCI | No | Yes | 515857 |
| 46060 | 02/06/2023 | NCI Gosport | AIS alert from harbour. HMCG informed. CG unable to contact vessel on Ch16 | NCI | No | Yes | 515806 |
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