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 : 9701
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
37422 04/03/2021 NCI Torbay HMCG requested visual scan of cliffs for MisPer wearing black. NCI, Police and police helo and CRT find nothing. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
37316 03/03/2021 NCI Mablethorpe Reported collapsed MoP on beach to CG. CRT attended and casualty transferred to ambulance. NCI No Yes
37292 01/03/2021 NCI Cape Cornwall CG requested any sighting of windsurfer reportedly in difficulty. No sighting but CRT established that target had landed ashore MCA/HMCG No Yes
37289 27/02/2021 NCI Nells Point CG requested any sighting of large floating debris reported by MoP. Object not sighted but possible identification of earlier object passed. . MCA/HMCG No Yes
37291 27/02/2021 NCI Torbay In contact with CG and Torquay HM concerning two illegal climbers seen on Thatchers Rock. Two kayaks reported leaving area. MCA/HMCG No Yes
37286 26/02/2021 NCI Skegness Assisted police in identification of possible offender. nfa Police No Yes
37307 26/02/2021 NCI Polruan Off-duty watchkeeper reported small craft operating suspiciously to CG. NFA at this stage while investigations continue. NCI No Yes
37326 26/02/2021 NCI Nare Point CG requested any sighting of female MoP reported by other walkers as missing. Target sighted and reported safe. nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
37334 26/02/2021 NCI Mundesley CG requested any update on large drums reported on beach. They had been reported previously and local authority would be updated. MCA/HMCG No Yes
37252 19/02/2021 NCI Exmouth Reported to CG concern for kite surfer with tangled rig on sands with incoming tide. Monitored and confirmed to CG that he had safely made shore. NCI No Yes
37247 18/02/2021 NCI Lyme Bay CG requested any sighting of a red flare. A number of other units activated and established that a MoB marker had washed ashore and self-ignited. NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37242 16/02/2021 NCI Calshot Tower In contact with CG over drifting RIB. Stood down after recovery tow arranged. NCI No Yes
37239 15/02/2021 NCI Hornsea Reported to CG a tree trunk on beach as potential hazard to small craft. EYRC will take action to remove. NCI No Yes
37243 15/02/2021 NCI Torbay CG called for any sighting of sailboarder reported in trouble with persons in water. Targets observed swimming back to beach, nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
37325 15/02/2021 NCI Nare Point Falmouth Pilots requested any sighting of drifting marker buoy. CG and pilots advised that buoy had been reported washed ashore. NCI No Yes
37229 14/02/2021 NCI Worms Head In contact with CG over two MoPs observed on headland in dangerous weather. Monitored and reported their safe return inland, Subjects were advised by NCI to take more care in future. NCI No Yes
37226 13/02/2021 NCI Hornsea Reported to CG quantity of debris on beach as a hazard to craft when refloated. Local council removed it. NCI No Yes
37216 11/02/2021 NCI Hornsea CG requested camera footage of female extracted from sea. Reported that camera currently malfunctioning. nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
37196 08/02/2021 NCI Torbay CG requested visual check for persons reported in the sea off Meadfoot Beach. Area checked by CCTV and CRT but no sighting. FAWGI MCA/HMCG No Yes
37171 04/02/2021 NCI Cromer Reported to CG that vessel clearly underway was showing on AIS as anchored. Ship was advised to correct its Nav Station. NCI No Yes
37177 04/02/2021 NCI Hornsea Reported to CG a large tree trunk on beach which would be a danger if washed out on next tide. NCI No Yes
37164 02/02/2021 NCI Charlestown CG requested any MoP reported sighting of craft in trouble. Visibility poor but observed object possibly mistaken for a boat in trouble. Incident closed. FAWGI MCA/HMCG No Yes
37184 02/02/2021 NCI Shoreham Relayed MoP report of kite surfer in difficulty to CG. Monitored and updated when he was assisted ashore by other surfers. NCI No Yes
37149 01/02/2021 NCI Teignmouth CG requested any sighting of 'sunken boat' reported by MoP. Object sighted when mist cleared and seen to be a large tree trunk confirmed by CRT. FAWGI nfa. MCA/HMCG No Yes
37181 01/02/2021 NCI Shoreham Reported to CG a lone kayaker in possible danger in failing light. Monitored him until he returned safely to harbour. Harbour pilot had also reported concern. NCI No Yes
37134 31/01/2021 NCI Padstow CG requested any sighting of a kite surfer reported by MoP as in trouble. Confirmed to CG that target was safely on the beach. fawgi MCA/HMCG No Yes
37136 31/01/2021 NCI Whitstable Reported downed windsurfer unable to recover to CG. ILB launched and directed to target by NCI. Casualty safely recovered and came to Station to thank watchkeepers for saving his life. NCI Yes Yes
37145 31/01/2021 NCI Cromer Reported to CG some children dangerously climbing a cliff slippage. Monitored them until they moved away. nfa NCI No Yes
37161 31/01/2021 NCI Penzance CG requested visual search for swimmers reported by police in bad weather. Nothing seen. Later reported them ashore. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37190 31/01/2021 NCI Canvey Island Reported to CG a RIB possibly damaged by youths on shoreline and liable to be washed out as a hazard. CRT attended to move. NCI No Yes
37127 30/01/2021 NCI Hengistbury Head MoP advised to report of floating object to CG. Poor visibility proved no sighting achieved. CG closed incident as no further information obtained. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
37128 30/01/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Reported to CG possible stranding of fishermen and requested ILB attend. LB located targets and reported no assistance required. NFA NCI Yes Yes
37126 29/01/2021 NCI Nells Point CG requested any sighting of people possibly stranded on sand bar reported by MoP. Locality not visible from Lookout. Situation monitored until fishermen left before sandbar became covered. FAWGI ? MCA/HMCG No Yes
37123 28/01/2021 NCI Hengistbury Head Relayed to CG two MoP reports of kite surfer down and unable to recover. LB tasked but stood down when target now reported back on beach. NCI Yes Yes
37210 28/01/2021 NCI Llandudno CG requested any info on overdue return of FV. Recorded as seen departing but no further sighting. nfa MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37155 27/01/2021 NCI Exmouth CG requested any sighting of surfboarder reportedly 'in difficulty'. No visual obtained. CRT also attended. nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
37120 27/01/2021 NCI Exmouth Reported to CG and Harbourmaster presence of large tree trunk in shipping lane. Monitored its progress but NFA. NCI No Yes
37104 25/01/2021 NCI Shoreham Reported to CG small inflatable in difficulty, ILB launched and directed to target by NCI to recover safely to harbour. NCI Yes Yes
37091 23/01/2021 NCI Porthcawl Relayed to police and CG an MoP report of two persons acting dangerously on beach with air rifles. Camera footage obtained. Targets left beach before police arrived. NCI No Yes
37083 22/01/2021 NCI Needles Reported drifting unmanned rowing boat to CG with an FV in locality. Monitored recovery to harbour by the FV. NCI No Yes

© National Coastwatch Institution 2012-2026
Registered Charity No. 1159975