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 : 8907
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
53448 24/05/2025 NCI Wells-next-the-Sea NCI observed 7 MOP cut off by tide. HMCG informed. AWLB tasked, but casualties waded waist deep back to safety. LB stood down. NCI Yes Yes
53435 23/05/2025 NCI Cape Cornwall NCI observed a SART alert from vessel. HMCG informed, but it was not on their screen. CG took charge of situation, and nothing more was heard. Alert disappeared. NCI No Yes
53436 23/05/2025 NCI Swanage Motor cruiser called HMCG reporting they had broken down. Position given was incorrect, and NCI told CG they had visual, and gave correct position. CG suggested vessel contact Seastart, and asked , NCI to monitor. Seastar towed casualty to harbour and safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53421 22/05/2025 NCI Rame Head NCI hear Pan Pan from yacht with engine and steering failure, and informed HMCG they had visual, and gave accurate position. Monitoring requested. Assistance requested from vessels in area, but 1 hour, away. AWLB tasked, and undertook tow to safety of port. NCI Yes Yes
53433 22/05/2025 NCI Mablethorpe RNLI asked NCI to monitor a surfer in rough seas. Target located on camera. Targets partner arrived at lookout expressing concern. Surfer came ashore and reentered water before leaving. NCI tried to, update RNLI but no answer. RNLI No No
53243 21/05/2025 NCI Torbay NCI observed 2 divers, no dive flag or support boat. Tried to alert 2 local vessels - 'divers down'. HMCG asked for detail, also tried to contact vessels with no success. Divers then disappeared from , view. NFA. NCI No Yes
53427 21/05/2025 NCI Shoreham Police asked NCI to look out for a MISPER from local hospital. Description given. NCI searched but did not see casualty, who was later reported to have been found safe and well. Police No No
53451 20/05/2025 NCI Wooltack Point HMCG called NCI re. MISPER on coastal path. Casualty reported to be vulnerable. AWLB, ILB and Police involved in search. Casualty found safe and returned to car park. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
53411 19/05/2025 NCI Porthcawl Yacht had engine failure on approach to marina. Anchor deployed, comms very difficult so called HMCG on 999. NCI informed CG they had visual. ILB tasked, 1 crew transferred to yacht, and vessel towed , to a marina berth. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
53413 19/05/2025 NCI Rame Head Yacht called HMCG - taking on water, but no immediate assistance required. Heading towards Rame Head, CG asked NCI for visual - confirmed. Vessel then called NCI on Ch65 to confirm visual. , Casualty then reported water level was reducing, and was making slow progress, CG updated. NCI monitored vessel until it entered harbour approach. NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53404 19/05/2025 NCI Hengistbury Head MOP informed NI of a young person distressed and unresponsive to questioning. HMCG advised, and they said to get informant to ring 999, but they had already left, CG advised. CRT arrived at , lookout, asked for details of informant but they had refused to give them. Casualty could not be located, incident closed. NCI No Yes
53385 18/05/2025 NCI Torbay MOP reported to NCI dangerous behaviour by 8 jet skis, speeding in swimming area. Harbour master contacted, had visual, and promised to deal with issue. NFA by NCI. Informant updated. NCI No No
53387 18/05/2025 NCI Exmouth Following report to Police by samaritans, HMCG were advised of a possible suicide attempt. AWLB tasked. NCI asked to keep a look out. search was negative, assets stood down. Police Yes Yes
53398 18/05/2025 NCI Llandudno NCI observed 2 kayaks, 3 POB, arrive on shore, not having been sen to go out. No wetsuits or buoyancy aids worn. kayaks abandoned at waters edge, occupants went into town. Kayaks in danger of floating, away. HMCG informed, also Border Force notified as possibly suspicious. No-one returned for kayaks during four hours. NCI No Yes
53399 18/05/2025 NCI Gwennap Head Canoeist phoned NCI, reporting they (five ) were very fatigued, struggling against tide and unable to return to starting point. They had formed a raft for safety. HMCG informed, AWLB tasked and all , were recovered to start point safely. NCI Yes Yes
53378 17/05/2025 NCI Porthcawl HMCG called NCI re possible paddle boarder in difficulty. Casualty, a kitesurfer, was located on camera. ILB tasked and recovered casualty to shore, all safe. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53426 17/05/2025 NCI Shoreham Local coastal office called NCI on Ch16 re. a Jetski, 2 POB, speeding in limited area. NCI spotted vessel, took photos, and reported it to have entered harbour and gone to watersports centre. NCI No No
53379 17/05/2025 NCI Southend NCI observed a fishing vessel run aground on mud flats, 3 POB. No apparent danger, HMCG informed. Location was a MOD site. manager informed. CRT tasked, Hovercraft launched, recovered 2 crew, leaving , one to wait for tide. Refloated 3 hours later. NCI Yes Yes
53383 17/05/2025 NCI Canvey Island NCI contacted HMCG re. digital distress heard. CG stated it was in error. May Day relay from CG asking for information. NCI carried out search then CG confirmed an error. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53405 17/05/2025 NCI Nare Point Yacht entering river reported a second yacht in danger of grounding, HMCG asked NCI for visual - confirmed. Vessel has sails down, and was motoring, 1 POB, and appeared fine. CG updated. , vessel carried on its passage without incident. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53373 16/05/2025 NCI Bembridge NCI observed a MOP on wrong side of cliff fence. CRT member, who was in the lookout confirmed, HMCG advised. CRT tasked, and discovered person was picnicking. They moved to correct side of , fence and then left. No other casualties seen. NFA NCI No Yes
53465 16/05/2025 NCI Froward Point Pan Pan issued by Motor Cruiser, engine failure. HMCG responded. 2 POB, tried to drop anchor but failed. NCI informed CG they had visual. Harbour authority vessel took casualty under tow, CG updated. , Vessel towed to safety of harbour. CG updated. NCI No Yes
53434 16/05/2025 NCI Cape Cornwall Harbour Master informed NCI (via another station) a F.V was at sea while owner was hospitalised, possibly without permission. NCI watched vessel approach, and informed HMCG that it was on an unwise , course. Attempts made to contact vessel were ignored, next station informed. CG updated. NCI No Yes
53370 15/05/2025 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent NCI observed an unattended lifting floating past lookout. HMCG informed, no-one visible. Object was floating towards a sailing club flotilla, so club warned of danger, safety boat asked to pick it up., Local ILB tasked, and asked NCI for location. Safety boat collected ring, LB updated, incident closed. No I/D on ring. NCI Yes Yes
53392 15/05/2025 NCI Portland Bill HMCG called NCI re. report of a ringing bell. CRT tasked, attended lookout to search, and decided it was a bell on buoy. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
53393 15/05/2025 NCI Porthcawl RNLI attended lookout asking NCI to check for MOP cut off by tide. Monitoring continued, ILB tasked, and found casualties had been rescued by a party of climbers. NFA. RNLI No Yes
53367 14/05/2025 NCI Nells Point NCI observed 2 MOP on island, just before causeway flooded. HMCG advised, then casualties self rescued by wading across causeway. CG updated. NFA NCI No Yes
53377 14/05/2025 NCI Shoreham HMCG alled NCI re. police report of 2 PWCs operating dangerously. NCI reported 4 had left one hour earlier, only 2 had returned. NCI then told CG they had a PWC on camera, and were asked to report, if they came back to harbour. NCI then updated CG - one had returned to marina, and 3 were operating near pier, in swim zone. 1 PWC then returned to water sports centre. NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53356 14/05/2025 NCI Llandudno NCI observed a paddle boarder drifting uncontrollably away from shore against wind and tide. HMCG informed, ILB tasked, and assisted casualty to shore. All safe. NCI Yes Yes
53363 14/05/2025 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed 2 paddle boarders in difficulty, one trying to tow the other. HMCG informed, monitoring requested. ILB tasked, but casualties managed to self rescue. ILB put crew ashore to advise , casualties, and gave them a lift back to their launch point. NFA. NCI Yes Yes
53357 13/05/2025 NCI Hengistbury Head MOP called NCI re missing person, who suffers from anxiety. HMCG informed. Caller details given to CG. MISPER later found safe and well after lookout closed. NCI No Yes
53336 12/05/2025 NCI Torbay NCI observed 4 MOP arrive on a protected site, via kayak and SUP. Harbour master informed, and made his way in his launch. Trespassers asked to vacate site. NCI No No
53351 12/05/2025 NCI Porthcawl HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of a flashing light from a vessel. NCI identified vessel which had exited marina, 2 POB an hour ago. Vessel appeared to have no issues, and returned to marina soon , afterwards. NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53353 12/05/2025 NCI Penzance Pan Pan issued re. yacht with prop fouled by rope. NCI advisedHMCG they had visual, monitoring requested. Fishing vessel arrived and took casualty under tow to port - all safe. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53355 12/05/2025 NCI Rhoscolyn HMCG called NCI asking for visual on broken down RIB - confirmed. CG informed of vessel close by, but ILB had been tasked. ILB undertook tow to safety of bay. NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
53332 11/05/2025 NCI Wells-next-the-Sea NCI observed 4 MOP plus dog possibly cut off by tide. HMCG informed, ILB alerted. Casualties then manage to wade back safely, CRT met them to check all ok. NCI Yes Yes
53335 11/05/2025 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent NCI observed a yacht dragging its anchor, HMCG informed. ILB tasked. ILB contacted skipper, and it was agreed assets could stand down. NFA NCI Yes Yes
53337 11/05/2025 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed kite surfer possibly in difficulty, and swimming ashore. Lifeguards informed, and they rang HMCG. ILB tasked, NCI monitored situation by camera. ILB recovered casualty to beach, NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
53400 11/05/2025 NCI Padstow HMCG called NCI asking for a search for an inflatable, possibly with a person hanging on. Nothing was seen, further information on position, revealed a collection of party balloons. No danger, NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes
53327 11/05/2025 NCI St Alban's Head NCI received a DSC alert from a dismasted catamaran. No response so May Day relay issued by NCI by 999 to HMCG. NCI established visual on vessel. May Day then issues by casualty, 2 POB, yacht standing, by nearby. AWLB tasked and undertook tow to safety. NCI No Yes

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