Incident Summaries

To return to the main NCI website, please use the back arrow at the top of your screen.

The Total Number of Incidents since we started recording them can be found by selecting '-Year' from the Year filter : 8201
Alternatively select a specific year to see how many Incidents were reported for that Year.

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.


Please note: NCI Canvey Island was previously know as NCI Holehaven and moved location on Monday 18 October 2021. All NCI Canvey Island Incident Summaries before that date will be in respect of NCI Holehaven at its previous location.

Glossary of Terms
FAWGI = False Alarm With Good Intent, MoP = Member of the Public, NFA = No Further Action, HMCG, CG or MCA = Coastguard, MisPer = Missing Person
CRT = Coastguard Rescue Team, CGOC = Coast Guard Operations Centre, ILB/ALB/LB = Lifeboats, MV = Motor Vessel, MB = Motor Boat,
ML = Motor Launch, FV = Fishing Vessel, PB = Power Boat, PWC = Personal Water Craft ("Jet Ski"), RIB = Rigid Inflatable Boat,
VLCC = Very Large Crude Carrier, UKBF = UK Border Force
Incident No. Date of Incident Station Name Incident Summary Initiated by Lifeboat involved MCA MCA No.
47614 30/09/2023 NCI Bass Point HMCG contacted NCI Bass Point tasking them to monitor dismasted trimaran. ILB towed to Falmouth MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 536391
47600 29/09/2023 NCI Lyme Bay MOP reported to NCI Lyme Bay swimmer in difficulty - located by NCI. 999 call to HMCG already responding but tasked NCI to monitor and con ILB to casualty who recovered. HELO winched and transported, casualty to hospital NCI Yes Yes 536285
47714 29/09/2023 NCI Stepper Point HMCG tasked NCI Stepper Point to make visual search for wing surfer reported by MOP further out than expected. NCI observed casualty apparently Ok and monitored until returned to beach MCA/HMCG No Yes 536241
47610 29/09/2023 NCI Shoreham HMCG contacted Shoreham NCI reporting a drifting kayak .NCI had logged - gave update - making slow progress. but no sign of danger. CG advised NCI to stand down MCA/HMCG No Yes 536308
47593 29/09/2023 NCI Porthcawl NCI Porthcawl routine scan noticed MOP attempting to cross mudflats. MOP became stuck to thighs. NCI Rang HMCG - cam link established - rising tide. NCI Mobile with Casualty. HMCG tasked Fire Service , and RNLI. Fire Service pulled Casualty to safety returned to slipway. NCI mobile radioed CG requesting ambulance NCI Yes Yes 536181
47594 29/09/2023 NCI Gosport Pan Pan heard YBK engine failure. Gosport NCI visual search, located and Update HMCG. NCI monitored Casualty who made slow progress to Harbour entrance, taken in tow . Casualty advised no further help, required MCA/HMCG No Yes 536263
47595 29/09/2023 NCI Bembridge NCI Bembridge received 2 SART signals on AIS. Reported to CG. CG contacted NCI - both error displays NCI No Yes 536246
47646 28/09/2023 NCI Rame Head MOP reported drunken male threatening to jump off cliff. NCI Rame Head contacted HMCG who advised contacting Police. They attended as Lookout was closing and took over situation NCI No Yes N/A
47585 28/09/2023 NCI Bembridge Sart signal received on AIS system. Contacted HMCG who requested MMSI and details NCI No Yes N/A
47590 28/09/2023 NCI Hornsea MOP contacted NCI Hornsea with possible 2 persons plus dog sighting on cliff. NCI contacted HMCG who tasked CRT and ILB. No casualties found and stood down MMO Yes Yes 536194
47582 27/09/2023 NCI Exmouth MOP rang NCI Exmouth reported yacht adrift in river Exe. Not able to locate on CCTV .reported to HMCG. Another yacht contacted giving correct location. NCI located to find it no longer drifting NCI No No
47558 26/09/2023 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed a kite surfer in difficulty. HMCG notified, who had several calls re. same incident. ILB tasked, HELO on exercise nearby. May Day issued. Casualty made own way to beach, incident closed. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 535920
47566 26/09/2023 NCI Porthcawl HMCG contacted NCI Porthcawl - MOP reported object floating off Tresco Bay - tasked to make visual/camera search. Nothing sighted other than club mooring buoy. CG confirmed this was object. MCA/HMCG No Yes 535904
47571 26/09/2023 NCI Teignmouth HMCG contacted NCI Teignmouth after MOP reported 3 swimmers appeared to in difficulty. NCI scanned position found 3 buoys . CG advised MOP MCA/HMCG No Yes 535942
47713 25/09/2023 NCI Stepper Point HMCG Tasked NCI Stepprer Point to make visual search for lone surfer reported in trouble. NCI located surfer and informed HMCG Who tasked CG to attend. Surfer self rescued. NCI Yes Yes 535789
47549 25/09/2023 NCI St Agnes Head NCI heard HMCG calling all vessels near beach. No response so NCI responded. MOP had been caught in RIP tide, but not visible from lookout. NCI advised military HELO was in area, but CG was nearby., CG HELO recovered casualty, ILB in support, casualty put onto beach, but then transferred casualty to hospital. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 535820
47554 25/09/2023 NCI St Ives HMCG called NCI re. call from MOP reporting sail blowing across bay. NCI confirmed position, no-one with sail. ILB tasked, and recovered sail and other windsurfer who had tried to help. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 535799
47556 25/09/2023 NCI St Ives HMCG tasked ILB to a windsurfer in trouble. NCI advised CG casualty had self recovered and ILB took casualty back tp port. NCI monitored situation. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 535812
47569 25/09/2023 NCI Froward Point Yacht Reported injured crew member - requested ILB to meet them at harbour entrance - ILB escorted to harbour for paramedic assistance. No ambulance available. Crewman made own arrangement to get to , hospital MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 535788
47546 24/09/2023 NCI Nells Point NCI observed MOP approach flooded causeway, then retreat. HMCG informed. ILB on standby. NCI asked to monitor, casualty then was lost to view, but believed to be safe on island. NCI No Yes n/a
47547 23/09/2023 NCI Nare Point NCI observed motor launch drifting - no-one aboard. Owners informed, also HMCG, and owners arranged to tow vessel back to port. CG informed. NCI No Yes n/a
47532 23/09/2023 NCI Wooltack Point Island warden advised HMCG a pedalo had capsized, 1 POB. NCI asked to monitor, and established visual, CG informed and given exact location. ILB tasked, but adverse conditions meant it had to shelter., AWLB tasked, but casualty had reached beach. LB recovered casualty who was taken into Police custody. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
47541 23/09/2023 NCI Polruan May Day broadcast from vessel, helmsman overboard. NCI inform HMCG they had visual on vessel, monitoring requested. Charlestown NCI also had visual. Both stations searching for casualty. AWLB , and ILB tasked. Nearby vessel located casualty in water, and stood by to await LB. HELO also on scene. Casualty recovered at third attempt, HELO stood down, casualty taken ashore by LB, and handed, to ambulance crew. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 535560
47531 22/09/2023 NCI Lyme Bay MOP informed NCI there was a dead porpoise near lookout. HMCG informed, and tasked CRT. CRT visited and took photos. National Trust said that due to danger of cliff falls, staff not allowed access., NT required directive from CRT or local authority before removing carcase. NCI No Yes 535370
47495 19/09/2023 NCI Prawle Point HMCG called NCI re, report of catamaran sailing close to shore in Force 8 south westerly. NCI had visual, and monitored until entered port. MCA/HMCG No Yes 535101
47498 19/09/2023 NCI Stone Point NCI observed kite surfer fall off board in high winds. Casualty was drifting. Next NCI station advised, HMCG informed. Casualty lost from view, ILB tasked. NCI w/k, on beach patrol, reported casualty, had reached beach, ILB stood down. NCI Yes Yes 535108
47499 19/09/2023 NCI Lyme Bay NT wardens advised NCI of dead dolphin . NCI informed HMCG giving position. Carcase was still in situ when lookout closed. NCI No Yes 535131
47504 19/09/2023 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed a yacht aground on sandspit. HMCG informed, CRT tasked. Vessel fully aground, CRT stood down, owner to return to refloat at hight tide. NCI No Yes 535141
47545 19/09/2023 NCI Nare Point HMCG called NCI re. yacht with engine failure. NCI gave position, and asked to monitor as gale warning had been given and CG unable to contact vessel. Later vessel reported engine problem resolved. MCA/HMCG No Yes 535154
47492 18/09/2023 NCI Exmouth NCI heard comms re. RIB aground, 5 POB. HMCG offered CCTV of area. After ILB passed, CCTV range exceeded. ILB waited for tide to refloat casualty. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 534995
57557 18/09/2023 NCI Southend NCI observed a small yacht had broken its mooring in adverse weather. HMCG notified. No POB. CRT tasked, and secured vessel on beach, NFA. NCI No Yes 535050
47497 18/09/2023 NCI Shoreham MOP called NCI re. kite surfer drifting and unable to get on board. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. No assets were deployed, and MOP informed NCI casualty had reached beach, but rig still drifting. NCI No Yes 535038
47485 17/09/2023 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent HMCG called NCI re. items found on beach, concern for possible missing owner. While W/K was investigating, owner, a swimmer, appeared safe and well. CG informed, CRT stood down. MCA/HMCG No Yes 534827
47491 17/09/2023 NCI Nells Point NCI observed MOP crossing to island, tide about to cover causeway. HMCG informed, NCI asked to monitor. ILB and CRT tasked. Person observed by CRT to be camping on island. Assets stood down NCI Yes Yes 534904
47480 16/09/2023 NCI Newhaven NCI called HMCG re. concern for missing diver. AWLB tasked, to search. Diver had been on body board. various possibilities were investigated, but not the casualty, then casualty found by breakwater., NCI informed CG casualty had been found safe and well. NCI Yes Yes 534652
47484 16/09/2023 NCI Whitstable Elderly MOP fell unconscious near lookout. Family unable to call 999, so NCI assisted by calling ambulance, and gave location. Casualty attended by paramedics and taken to hospital NCI No No n/a
47479 15/09/2023 NCI Gosport Pan Pan issued from vessel with engine failure in harbour entrance. NCI advised HMCG they had visual., and asked to monitor. Police RIBwent to assist and took casualty under tow to marina. MCA/HMCG No Yes 534552
47457 14/09/2023 NCI Brancaster HMCG called NCI re. missing fishing vessel. Call had been received saying vessel had been hit by rogue wave. CRT arrived at station, searched for vessel, Pan Pan also issued to all vessels in area., Vessel then located in bay, all well. MCA/HMCG No Yes 204595
47460 14/09/2023 NCI St Ives NCI observed ba swimmer struggling against tide. HMCG informed. ILB tasked. Swimmer reached rocks, but had injuries. casualty attended by LB and returned safely to shore. NCI Yes Yes 204587
47511 13/09/2023 NCI Porthdinllaen HMCG called NCI re. broken down power boat. NCI confirmed visual and vessel details, and details of nearby vessel. CG contacted them and they towed casualty to safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes 204487

© National Coastwatch Institution 2012-2024
Registered Charity No. 1159975