Incident Summaries

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The Total Number of Incidents since we started recording them can be found by selecting '-Year' from the Year filter : 8901
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
52454 09/02/2025 NCI Newhaven NCI observed a MOP sitting on cliff edge for 45 minutes. HMCG informed, as NCI were concerned for her safety. CRT and Police attended, spoke to casualty, and she left in the care of Police. NCI No Yes
52455 09/02/2025 NCI Needles NCI informed HMCG a yacht was aground on shingle bank. Vessel called CG reporting grounding, ILB and local LB tasked, check vessel, and attach a tow line to pull casualty off bank. Vessel then , proceeded under its own power. NCI Yes Yes
52463 09/02/2025 NCI Charmouth HMCG called NCI re. report of MOPs stranded at end of sea wall. % persons observed, 3 on rocks, 2 heading for rocks. CRT attended, NCI informed all persons were then on rocks, and being met by CRT. MCA/HMCG No Yes
52452 08/02/2025 NCI Mablethorpe NCI identified object on beach, labelled Hazard, HMCG informed and tasked CRT, who removed object. NCI No Yes
52448 08/02/2025 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent HMCG asked NCI to look out for an overdue yacht,1 POB, which had missed its ETA. Sail no. and name given. Ch16 broadcast asking all vessels to look out for vessel. RNLI LBs tasked to search., Fixed wing air asset also tasked. Pan Pan then issued. Missing vessel was located by LB, all assets stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52456 07/02/2025 NCI Hengistbury Head HMCG contacted NCI and asked for a search for a yacht which had missed its ETA. Description given (same incident as I/R 52448 ) RNLI LBs, and HELO tasked. Emergency alerts issued to all ships. , Casualty found by LB next day, and assistance given, assets stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52476 06/02/2025 NCI Froward Point HMCG asked NCI for visual on vessel which had issued a Pan Pan reporting engine failure. NCI confirmed visual, and informed CG it was making slow progress to river, where it reached its berth. MCA/HMCG No Yes
52436 06/02/2025 NCI Bembridge HMCG called NCI asking to locate a rowing boat, but nothing seen. AWLB tasked, and located a vessel aground, but no-one on board. NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52429 05/02/2025 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI called HMCG re. long term carrier wave on Ch 16, CG used RNLI to locate culprits bearing. Yacht in harbour located and instructed to shut down transmission. NCI Yes Yes
52430 05/02/2025 NCI Felixstowe Police called NCI re. search for MISPER. NCI asked to carry out search, also by HMCH. CRT, ILB tasked to search, and casualty found, out of sight of lookout. Police Yes Yes
52415 04/02/2025 NCI Bembridge NCI detected a SART activation on AIS. HMCG informed, with details. 13.5 miles from station so no further action from NCI, nothing subsequently found. NCI No Yes
52411 03/02/2025 NCI Torbay NCI observed a sailboarder in difficulty, HMCG informed, monitoring requested. Casualty eventually made it to the shoe without assistance. NCI No Yes
52393 02/02/2025 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed an inflatable, 2 POB, moored to buoy and fishing. When they tried to start engine they were unsuccessful. No lifejackets. HMCG informed. Casualties released from buoy and tried to row, but tide too strong, CG updated. Pan Pan issued by CG, and B.F. cutter offered to send RIB. Casualties gradually made it to shore, NCI advised help not needed, so RIB returned to cutter. All safe NCI No Yes
52417 02/02/2025 NCI St Ives Off duty W/K observed 4 foreign F.V.s In bay. AIS screenshot taken and forwarded to HMCG. CG passed on information to Fisheries protection for action next day. NCI No Yes
52382 01/02/2025 NCI Torbay CRT informed HMCG they were attending a cliff fall. NCI informed CG they had visual, no sign of MOPs in area. NCI continued to monitor situation, CRT used drone to check for casualties. MCA/HMCG No Yes
52390 01/02/2025 NCI Porthcawl HMCG tasked CRT and ILB to report of a dog in the water, with owner trying to rescue it. NCI offered camera search. LB recovered dog and owner returned to beach. Assets stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52371 31/01/2025 NCI Lyme Bay MOP re[ported to NCI a dead dog at foot of a cliff fall. HMCG informed, and tasked CRT who recovered dog and returned it to owner. NCI No Yes
52374 31/01/2025 NCI Hengistbury Head HMCG called NCI asking if they had visual after a SART alert - negative. NCI sent screenshot of display showing position. two vessels searched area, with negative results. Station closed, , but it was later reported that the MMSI number was from a French yacht in Cherbourg marina. There had been several spurious SART alarms recently NCI No Yes
52360 29/01/2025 NCI Felixstowe HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of paddle boarder in trouble. One paddle boarder seen, but not in trouble, CG informed. CRT and ILB had been tasked. CRT talked to PB, who was fine, NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52362 29/01/2025 NCI Folkestone NCI observed smoke from a SSSI, HMCG informed. Screenshot sent. CRT tasked, and Fire service attended. Fire was a controlled burn by volunteers at site. NCI No Yes
52351 26/01/2025 NCI Southend MOP informed the S.M. he had lost visual contact with his fellow kitesurfer. HMCG had been informed. CG asked NCI if they had visual - 2 were visible, but visibility poor. NCI then observed 2 kite, surfers returning to shore. CRT asked them if all were ashore - affirmative. Further visual check revealed nothing. NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes
52346 26/01/2025 NCI Newhaven NCI observed a MOP sitting down, before approaching station having self harmed. HMCG informed, and ambulance called. Ambulance projected 2 - 8 hours, CRT tasked, eta 10 mins. CRT gave first aid, and ambulance then arrived and took casualty to hospital. NCI No Yes
52340 25/01/2025 NCI Worms Head NCI observed 5 MOPs on island in danger of being cut off. HMCG advised, siren deployed but no response. CRT and ILB tasked, and casualties recovered. NCI Yes Yes
52342 25/01/2025 NCI Swanage NCI saw ambulance in car park, crew searching for casualty. NCI located casualty with camera, and informed ambulance crew, and directed them to casualty. HMCG informed about incident. Casualty , was removed by ambulance crew, assisted by MOP, and transferred to hospital. Ambulance No Yes
52343 25/01/2025 NCI Canvey Island CRT asked NCI S.M. if watch was open as there were 4-5 persons cut off on mud flats. Lookout was opened and a search commenced with searchlight and CCTV. Initial contact was negative when HELO , looked. After extensive search, nothing was found. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52334 24/01/2025 NCI Felixstowe HMCG called NCI re. report of person threatening self harm. CRT tasked, W/K assisted with location. CRT took casualty to vehicle to await ambulance, and was then taken by ambulance to hospital. MCA/HMCG No Yes
52347 23/01/2025 NCI Hengistbury Head Police informed NCI a missing MOP intended travelling to Hengistbury Head, and asked to call 999 if seen. HMCG were informed of incident, who knew nothing of it. On calling Police, NCI were informed, incident was closed. Police No Yes
52329 23/01/2025 NCI St Ives MOP reported to NCI a body on rocks below station, out of view. HMCG informed, ILB,CRT, HELO tasked, and Police arrived. HELO lowered winch man to recovery body. NCI Yes Yes
52330 23/01/2025 NCI Needles NCI received SART beacon broadcast. HMCG informed of position - they had not received alert. Passing vessel described to CG. Photo of alert sent. No other station had received alert, and nothing , untoward on passing vesel. No MMSI with alert. NCI No Yes
52324 22/01/2025 NCI Penzance Police contacted NCI re. missing person. Description given, and if seen asked to contact. Police then rang to say MISPER had been located safe and well. Police No No
52333 22/01/2025 NCI Felixstowe MOP called NCI re. object in water. HMCG informed, CRT tasked, nothing untoward found. NCI No Yes
52318 21/01/2025 NCI Gorleston HMCG called NCI rte. report from Police of a MOP possibly entered the sea. Visual check was negative. ILB tasked to search, NCI asked for CCTV footage. HELO then tasked, also Police drones. , Despite extensive search during most of the day, nothing was found. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52302 20/01/2025 NCI Prawle Point Off duty W/K arrived at lookout, and became unwell. After initial advice, his condition worsened, 999 was called. Ambulance and CRT arrived, and casualty was airlifted by air ambulance to hospital. NCI No Yes
52287 19/01/2025 NCI Teignmouth MOP called NCI re.unattended swimming bag on coast path, no swimmer seen. HMCG informed, CRT tasked. No bag or swimmer found. NCI No Yes
52296 19/01/2025 NCI Felixstowe NCI called by CRT asking to open lookout after hours and review webcam footage. Concern for MISPER. Footage revealed possible sighting. CRT and Police came to lookout. Casualty was then located and , taken to safety of family, CRT, ILB, and AWLB stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52301 19/01/2025 NCI Prawle Point MOP advised NCI he had become separated from his wife. NCI informed him she had been seen outside visitor centre. He was invited in as he had a heart condition. Wife then called, and they were , reunited. All well. NCI No No
52288 18/01/2025 NCI Nells Point HMCG called NCI re. report by MOP of fishing vessel in distress. NCI observed vessel, which seemed fine, and was fishing. CRT tasked, and contacted first informant. No distress seen, NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes
52311 18/01/2025 NCI Nare Point HMCG issued Pan Pan re. motor cruiser with engine failure. CG asked NCI if other vessels were visible - negative. ILB tasked, NCI asked to monitor. NCI informed CG the vessel was attempting to anchor, but said vessel was drifting towards mussel farm. ILB extracted casualty from mussel farm, and towed to marina and safety. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
52281 18/01/2025 NCI Portland Bill NCI observed a MOP with head injuries on rocks, seen to be vomiting. HMCG had been contacted by public, and they rang NCI. casualty was assisted to path by MsOP. CG updated. CRT attended., Casualty was treated in ambulance. MCA/HMCG No Yes
52257 15/01/2025 NCI Worms Head HMCG called NCI re. MISPER, asked to keep a lookout. HELO and CRT tasked. MOP informed NCI of a possible sighting, CG informed. 2 W/K from previous watch returned and started search. W/Ks , located casualty and guided them away from cliff edge. CRT informed. Casualty taken into care of Police. MCA/HMCG No Yes

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