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 : 9994
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
37745 27/04/2021 NCI Prawle Point NCI observed dory with 4 POB unable to start engine. Reported to HMCG, and yacht within 0.3 miles. HMCG radioed yacht, which took dory in tow to Salcombe NCI No Yes
37734 26/04/2021 NCI Prawle Point Sailing vessel reported broken fan belt. NCI asked by HMCG to monitor. Vessel observed and hoisted sail and sailed away. MCA/HMCG No Yes
37735 26/04/2021 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent Small vessel observed drifting without power. 2 POB using oars. HMCG requested NCI to monitor.. PanPan initiated. NCI watch keeper went to beach to ensure safe arrival of boat NCI No Yes
37749 26/04/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Pan Pan issued re day fisher with 2 POB rowing. NCI informed HMCG, asked to monitor, and boat safely reached shore in 35 minutes. NFA NCI No Yes
37750 26/04/2021 NCI Calshot Tower HMCG requested NCI look for possible small dinghy adrift off Hamble. Observed and monitored for 30 minutes and reported to HMCG did not appear in difficulty MCA/HMCG No Yes
37826 25/04/2021 NCI Gosport Yacht called MayDay aground on Ryde Sands. NCI had visual contact. Ryde Rescue recovered casualty, and yacht left to await rising tide. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37775 25/04/2021 NCI Shoreham Possible overturned kayak observed. HMCG tasked ILB to investigate. Object discovered to be a loose buoy. NFA NCI Yes Yes
37718 25/04/2021 NCI Hengistbury Head Motor boat with 2 POB reported problem outside Christchurch harbour. NCI had visual. ILB took casualty under tow safely to harbour MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37721 25/04/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Yellow inflatable observed in trouble, no people seen. Inflatable collected by small craft, Hamble LB located two people in water, transferred to meet ambulance, conscious and talking NCI Yes Yes
37728 25/04/2021 NCI Llandudno MOP reported one of a group of three paddle boarders appeared to be in difficulty. HMCG asked NCI to observe. ILB deployed and two of the three taken back to shore. All safe MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37733 25/04/2021 NCI Hornsea Large barrel sized object observed by NCI. HMCG informed, requested that NCI monitor. Visual lost and not seen again. NCI No Yes
37748 25/04/2021 NCI Hornsea NCI observed walkers cut off by incoming tide. HMCG informed. Hornsea Inshore Rescue RIB launched. Casualty had minor injuries and returned to boat house NCI No Yes
37701 24/04/2021 NCI Worms Head 2 MOP possibly stranded on Worm by tide reported to HMCG. Phone contact made with MOP and informed they were happy to wait for causeway to open. Stressed to wait for full opening NCI No Yes
37702 24/04/2021 NCI Porthcawl HMCG asked NCI to gain visual on boy being blown out to sea on bodyboard. Casualty observed, HMCG informed, and ILB recovered casualty to beach and reunited with concerned parents. No injuries MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37703 24/04/2021 NCI Porthcawl 2 MOP observed cut off by incoming tide. NCI contacted HMCG, ILB launched to recover casualties safely to beach. Nine further persons identified in cove and cut off, but happy to stay until tide ebbs NCI Yes Yes
37704 24/04/2021 NCI Fleetwood Call from local CG to observe MOP chasing runaway dog. Observed, dog eventually caught, and contacted by HMCG team MCA/HMCG No Yes
37774 24/04/2021 NCI Shoreham NCI observed dinghy aground in Shoreham harbour. Sussex YC informed, deployed safety boat, and crew transferred to Dive Charter boat for return to shore. Dinghy to be refloated at high tide. NCI No No
37705 24/04/2021 NCI Newhaven HMCG asked NCI to look for paddle border in trouble. P.B. observed in company of windsurfer, also in trouble. P.B recovered by Lifeboat. Windsurfer OK. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37801 24/04/2021 NCI Portland Bill MOP saw 2 surfboarders in difficulty in Chesil Cove. Advised 999 to HMCG, AWLB and Helo tasked, casualties safely returned to shore MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37699 24/04/2021 NCI Porthcawl HCG requested NCI to look for four persons holding onto a paddle board in river mouth. Casualties observed drifting towards rocks. AWLB and ILB launched. MOP reported casualties now safely on beach. N MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37825 24/04/2021 NCI Gosport HMCG tasked ILB to search for MOP in water. Helo. also deployed. Casualty observed by NCI and recovered by ILB and transferred to ambulance MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37700 24/04/2021 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed two surfers being blown offshore. Contacted HMCG. ILB launched and recovered surfers and escorted to beach. NCI Yes Yes
37719 23/04/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Mayday call, followed by assistance request from HMCG. Visual on motor boat aground, which freed itself, and proceeded up river. No confirmation that this was vessel but LB searched with nothing found MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37738 22/04/2021 NCI Torbay A yacht on passage to Dartmouth experienced engine problems. HMCG requested NCI to look out for, as Comms were difficult. NCI unable to see yacht, and suggested NCI Froward Point may have visual MCA/HMCG No Yes
37687 22/04/2021 NCI Porthcawl Request from HMCG to monitor paddle boarders possibly in trouble. One in water, and one trying to paddle to shore. ILB launched and recovered casualties, who were unhurt but very tired MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37621 18/04/2021 NCI Teignmouth MoP reported person on inflatable being swept out to sea. Notified HMCG who tasked ILB. Local dredger advised CG they had picked up casualty and taking to quay. Doctor attended. NCI No Yes
37766 18/04/2021 NCI Shoreham Capsizes speedboat observed with two casualties in water. AWLB launched . Casualties rescued by fishing vessel, and wreckage recovered by harbour pilot boat NCI Yes Yes
37682 18/04/2021 NCI Porthcawl HMCG requested NCI to scan Rest Bay for MOP possible self harming. Camera observation, but no sighting, Casualty met by Police and Ambulance, and escorted to ambulance. MCA/HMCG No Yes
37642 17/04/2021 NCI Hengistbury Head MOP reported dog ran over cliff, HMCG CRT team abseiled cliff and recovered dog safe and well NCI No Yes
37669 17/04/2021 NCI Exmouth Kitesurfer stranded on sandbank. NCI alerted by sculler. Lifeguards attended and recovered board and delivered to surfer NCI No No
37645 16/04/2021 NCI Fleetwood NCI reported MOP in danger of being cut off by tide, along with two dogs. ILB launched and recovered casualty and dogs NCI Yes Yes
37765 15/04/2021 NCI Shoreham Vessel entered Shoreham Harbour with 5 persons huddled in cockpit. HMCG alerted. Police looked at CCTV footage, and investigation continuing NCI No Yes
37639 15/04/2021 NCI Stone Point MOP reported kayakers in difficulty. HMCG requested visual search. Nothing seen. Kayakers reported safely ashore MCA/HMCG No Yes
37641 15/04/2021 NCI St Alban's Head MOP reported red object, possible casualty, on cliff face. HMCG CRT deployed and recovered discarded red sleeping bag NCI No Yes
37668 14/04/2021 NCI Exmouth HMCG requested NCI monitor capsized kayaker in estuary. ILB launched, and ambulance attended. Casualty taken to hospital MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
37891 14/04/2021 NCI Nare Point NCI called by HMCG and informed launch holed and beached. Due to be recovered later, and NCI asked to look out for it in case it refloated with no one in attendnce. MCA/HMCG No Yes
37635 13/04/2021 NCI Torbay HMCG requested visual on disabled MV. Located by camera, HMCG advised. Harbourmaster's vessel tasked to recover. Tow monitored by CCTV and CG informed when casualty safe. MCA/HMCG No Yes
37631 13/04/2021 NCI Porthcawl Sighted dead porpoise on rocks and reported to CG. Local Council informed and would recover corpse. NCI No Yes
37888 13/04/2021 NCI Nare Point NCI informed HMCG of a super yacht with a discrepancy in its AIS display. Search revealed possible suspicious history.. HMCG dealt with situation. NCI No Yes
37620 12/04/2021 NCI Teignmouth HMCG requested visual on parent with unwell child on beach. Casualty located and position notified to CG. Ambulance arrived and treated child. MCA/HMCG No Yes

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