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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45702 | 07/05/2023 | NCI Brancaster | NCI observed 3 MOP cut off on island by tide. HMCG informed, and liaised with warden. Casualties then waded across channel to safety, LB cancelled, all safe. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 512096 |
| 45704 | 07/05/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | Alert re. person reported in water, CRT tasked. NCI asked for visual by HMCG. Nothing seen. ILB tasked, and MOP reported seeing body go under water. HELO tasked, searched area. , Police then interviewed informant, who had made numerous 999 calls, incident treated as FAGWI. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 512127 |
| 45782 | 06/05/2023 | NCI St Donat's Bay | HMCG requested assistance for cabin cruiser needing a tow. NCI did not have visual, but could not see any vessels in area. AWLB tase. NCI then established visual. LB took casualty under tow, 2 POB , plus dog. Towed to safety, all safe. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511948 |
| 45684 | 05/05/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | NCI contacted by RNLI re. windsurfer in trouble, broken boom. ILB tasked, recovered casualty, NCI asked to look for lost sail. which could not be found, casualty safe. | RNLI | Yes | Yes | 511832 |
| 45720 | 05/05/2023 | NCI Hornsea | NCI observed floating object, possible lifejacket. HMCG informed. ILB tasked, NCI conned it to object. Object turned out to be a party balloon. NFA | NCI | Yes | Yes | 511851 |
| 45679 | 04/05/2023 | NCI Gosport | Pan Pan from sailing vessel, loss of power. NCI obtained position from AIS, informed HMCG they had visual. Vessel drifting, 6 POB, tow requested, AWLB tasked, pilot boat started tow, which was taken, over by AWLB. Casualty returned to quay and safety. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511726 |
| 45693 | 04/05/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI observed a MOP climbing on cliffs, possibly in difficulty. HMCG informed, camera link established. ILB tasked, on exercise and asked to look. Climber reached top of cliff eventually and safety. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 511789 |
| 45659 | 03/05/2023 | NCI Exmouth | HMCG called NCI re. kite surfer reported in difficulty. Visual established, RNLI lifeguards launched PWC casualty recovered to beach. All safe. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511611 |
| 45660 | 03/05/2023 | NCI Rame Head | MOP found live ammunition close to lookout. W/K investigated, took photo. HMCG informed, photo emailed. Police called, W/K secured position, but no Police available. Advised safe to handle rounds., Items were blank practice rounds - kept safe for collection next day. | NCI | No | Yes | POL481 |
| 45667 | 03/05/2023 | NCI Gosport | Pan Pan from yacht with engine failure, 3 POB, wearing lifejackets. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. Casualty at anchor, NCI monitored situation. Non RNLI LB towed casualty to safety. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511625 |
| 45649 | 02/05/2023 | NCI Porthcawl | NCI observed ocean going rowing boat close to rocks. Vessel issued MayDay having run aground on rocks, 1 POB. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. ILB tasked, vessel then floated off rocks, NCI , continued to monitor. ILB took vessel under tow, HELO stood by. Casualty reached safety. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511508 |
| 45718 | 02/05/2023 | NCI Hornsea | NCI observed 2 MOP cut off on beach - attempting to climb cliff. HMCG informed, but casualties managed to self rescue. | NCI | No | Yes | 511531 |
| 45624 | 01/05/2023 | NCI Newhaven | MOP called HMCG re. boat or jetski drifting out. CG asked NCI for visual. Nothing seen, incident closed. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 511376 |
| 45625 | 01/05/2023 | NCI Prawle Point | HMCG asked NCI for visual on yacht which had fouled fishing gear. Nothing seen. AWLB gave updated position, still not visual to NCI. Casualty towed to harbour by LB. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| 45632 | 01/05/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | HMCG requested visual from NCI re. RIB broken down. Pan Pan issued. Visual established, CG informed, ILB tasked, and took casualty under tow, CG informed. LB towed casualty to safety. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511431 |
| 45644 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Nells Point | MOP called HMCG re. object in water. NCI asked for visual, but negative. ILB tasked, and found RIB with 1 POB fishing, not in need of assistance. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511220 |
| 45650 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Folkestone | HMCG called NCI re. walker injured. AWLB tasked. GROUP of people observed, CRT arrived, attended casualty, and taken to hospital in car. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511214 |
| 45594 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Charlestown | HMCG tasked CG mobile re. object in water. Unable to see so tried to contact FV in area. NCI informed CG of identity of vessel and that she was hauling pots. CG asked NCI for details of local vessels., FV in question could not be contacted. CG advised of fishing gear position. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 511209 |
| 45595 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Brancaster | NCI observed 7 MOP on sand bar cut off by tide. HMCG informed. 4 casualties managed to wade to shore, then other three decided to swim to shore, which they did safely. LB stood down. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 511237 |
| 45597 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Needles | HMCG requested NCI look for SART alert vessel. First vessel seen not responsible. SART tracked on AIS, moved, then stationary. No vessel visible. Outcome inconclusive. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 511233 |
| 45598 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Chapel Point | MOP reported dead whale on beach. HMCG informed, and tasked team to investigate. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 511218 |
| 45608 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | SART alert activated. NCI located source and informed HMCG. MOB alert shown to be still on vessel. Signal lost, CG informed so assumed accidental activation. | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 45620 | 30/04/2023 | NCI Charlestown | HMCG called NCI re. 2 paddle boarders, one towing other. NCI monitored progress, CRT tasked. casualties reached beach safely, CG informed. CRT met casualties on beach. All safe. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 511294 |
| 45589 | 29/04/2023 | NCI Cape Cornwall | Pan Pan from vessel unable to start engine and had dropped anchor. HMCG requested NCI give weather report and maintain visual. AWLB tasked, engine restarted, vessel headed for harbour, LB shadowed. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 511111 |
| 45611 | 28/04/2023 | NCI Polruan | HMCG issued Pan Pan re. vessel with engine failure south of harbour. RIB went to assist. NCI maintained visual watch. Casualty towed to buoy in harbour. NFA | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 510994 |
| 45612 | 27/04/2023 | NCI Polruan | NCI monitored yacht by radar in fog, which came close to port, then turned 180 degrees and left area. NCI reported possible suspicious activity to HMCG, who chose not to raise incident. NFA. | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 45562 | 25/04/2023 | NCI Porthdinllaen | NCI reported to HMCG a canoe with sail, single POB acting oddly and underdressed. Mobile CG tasked, and had visual. Person seen to put on extra clothes, and monitoring continued by CG, station closed. | MCA/HMCG | No | Yes | 510736 |
| 45839 | 25/04/2023 | NCI Porthdinllaen | NCI observed canoe with sail, apparently in difficulty. HMCG informed, situation monitored by CRT, but NFA. | NCI | No | Yes | 510736 |
| 45559 | 25/04/2023 | NCI Shoreham | Items found on beach, including camping kit and clothing. HMCG informed, UKCG also involved. Incident handed over to Police, who removed items. | NCI | No | Yes | 510703 |
| 45575 | 24/04/2023 | NCI Needles | Pan Pan from RIB with engine failure. NCI advised HMCG they had visual. Casualty anchored. Second vessel responded and established tow, and returned it to safe mooring. | Fire | No | Yes | 510627 |
| 45553 | 24/04/2023 | NCI Charmouth | NCI observed a major landslip. No information on casualties. HMCG informed. CRT tasked. Slip still active. No MOPs caught under slip, exclusion zone established. MOPs cut off escorted to safety. , ILB tasked to check for others trapped. Despite slip still active, MOPs observed climbing on debris. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510624 |
| 45557 | 24/04/2023 | NCI Exmouth | Police visited NCI during search for missing child. NCI maintained observation while search continued. Nothing seen. | Police | No | No | n/a |
| 45574 | 23/04/2023 | NCI Felixstowe | NCI observed large object floating near lookout. HMCG advised. Pilot vessel asked to investigate but searched small area incorrectly. CG advised object would not be collected, but warning put out., Object floated out of view of NCI. | NCI | No | Yes | 510505 |
| 45550 | 23/04/2023 | NCI Shoreham | MOP informed NCI a kite surfer appeared be struggling. HMCG informed. Further call from MOP to say casualty had eventually made it safely to the beach. ILB stood down. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510548 |
| 45547 | 22/04/2023 | NCI Shoreham | MOP reported to HMCG an unidentified object. NCI had identified as race marker. ILB tasked. NCI provided details for ILB, and object confirmed as race marker. Object left in situ. | MCA/HMCG | Yes | Yes | 510340 |
| 45537 | 21/04/2023 | NCI Nells Point | NCI observed 2 MOP trying to cross causeway, 1 other remained on island. HMCG informed, already aware. CRT tasked. ILB also tasked and recovered casualty to shore. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510294 |
| 45529 | 20/04/2023 | NCI Bembridge | NCI heard faint MayDay, no response fro HMCG. NCI phoned CG, who established it was accidental during crew briefing. NFA | NCI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 45527 | 20/04/2023 | NCI Hengistbury Head | RNLI phoned NCI re. tender broken loose from yacht. NCI asked to monitor vessel. CG asked for update, monitoring continued. Tender recovered. NCI closed for evening, incident ongoing. | RNLI | No | Yes | n/a |
| 45506 | 19/04/2023 | NCI Canvey Island | NCI observed overturned dinghy, one person on top waving arms. HMCG informed, CCTV recorded incident. ILB tasked, returned dinghy and owner to yacht club. All well, no injuries. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510068 |
| 45516 | 19/04/2023 | NCI Stone Point | DSC received from motor vessel with no steerage, Pan Pan issued by HMCG. 2 POB. NCI asked for visual. AWLB tasked, and towed casualty to safety. | NCI | Yes | Yes | 510058 |
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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