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
35978 19/09/2020 NCI Porthcawl Reported to CG concern for two paddle boarders in strong current. Monitored and updated recovery by ILB and CRT. NCI Yes Yes
35992 19/09/2020 NCI Exmouth Reported capsized kayaker and assisting PWC also capsized to CG. Updated as local water taxi and ILB assisted in recovery. NCI Yes Yes
35968 19/09/2020 NCI Fleetwood Reported downed kite surfer to CG. Monitored and updated when he managed to reach shore. NCI No Yes
35969 19/09/2020 NCI Fleetwood Reported capsized PWC to CG. Monitored and updated when second PWC assisted him, NCI No Yes
35967 19/09/2020 NCI Worms Head Sighted and reported stranded MoPs to CG. CRT and ILB attended to recover to mainland. NCI Yes Yes
35980 18/09/2020 NCI Nells Point Confirmed to CG as visual with disabled single-handed yacht in strong gale and with no radio. Updated when towed in by AWLB. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
35954 18/09/2020 NCI Calshot Tower Reported to CG as visual with disabled MV. Monitored and assisted other vessel to R/V and tow in. NCI No Yes
35961 18/09/2020 NCI Lyme Bay Reported concern over paddle boarders to CG. Monitored and updated when seen to reach safety. NCI No Yes
35959 18/09/2020 NCI Nare Point Relayed Mayday call from yacht with injured crewman to CG. ILB attended to bring him ashore. Yacht SEBA also attended. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
35942 17/09/2020 NCI Porthcawl CG requested a sighting of anglers tidebound. Group identified and monitored. All recovered to shore by ILB. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
35940 17/09/2020 NCI Exmouth Reported drifting yacht to CG. ILB and another yacht assisted to tow in. NCI Yes Yes
35941 17/09/2020 NCI Porthcawl HMCG requested visual search for two swimmers reported by MOP. Swimmers located, not apparently in difficulty. Monitored until safely ashore. Advised CG. MCA/HMCG No Yes
35939 17/09/2020 NCI Exmouth Local RNLI requested monitoring of swimmer in possible difficulty in strong current. Sighted until he reached safety. nfa RNLI Yes Yes
35938 17/09/2020 NCI Exmouth Reported yacht with steering trouble to CG. ILB tasked to tow in. NCI Yes Yes
35937 17/09/2020 NCI Worms Head Reported stranded MoPs to CG. ILB and CRT activated to bring safely to shore. NCI Yes Yes
35943 17/09/2020 NCI Nells Point Reported possible stranding of MoPs to CG. Monitored and updated when they waded ashore waist deep. nfa NCI No Yes
35951 17/09/2020 NCI Bass Point Relayed report from parent of missing man to CG. Updated when target by chance passed NCI Station and was asked to phone parent. NFA NCI No Yes
35953 17/09/2020 NCI Bass Point CG requested sighting of MV struggling in heavy weather. Target sighted after 1 hour and AWLB given position to assist in. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
35998 17/09/2020 NCI Penzance Confirmed to CG that MB with injured crewman was visual. Monitored and updated as LB attended and reported casualty not serious. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
35928 16/09/2020 NCI Nells Point Reported MoPs potentially tidebound to CG. Monitored and updated when they managed to get to shore, LB stood down MCA/HMCG No Yes
35929 16/09/2020 NCI Fleetwood Reported drifting RIB to CG. Directed AWLB to unseaworthy casualty to tow in. NCI Yes Yes
36103 15/09/2020 NCI Folkestone Reported overloaded dinghy to relevant authorities. Monitored and updated when it reached the beach. nfa NCI No Yes
35911 14/09/2020 NCI Worms Head Reported to CG an elderly gent collapsed from possible heat exhaustion. Provided location to CG Mobile Unit for it to move casualty to ILB for remove him to shore. NCI Yes Yes
35916 14/09/2020 NCI Portscatho Reported to CG MoPs in danger from incoming tide. Monitored and updated when they managed to make shore safely. NCI No Yes
35901 13/09/2020 NCI Worms Head Reported to CG two young males crossing to the Worm. Siren sounded with no response. They (just) made it back in water up to their chests. CG updated.. NCI No Yes
35908 13/09/2020 NCI Hengistbury Head Informed CG that disabled RIB alongside cruise ship was visual. Updated when it got underway again. MCA/HMCG No Yes
35917 13/09/2020 NCI Penzance CG requested any sighting of craft reportedly 'shining a bright light'. Target sighted and CG informed it was reflected sunlight. MCA/HMCG No Yes
35915 13/09/2020 NCI Stone Point Reported to CG kite surfer down and maybe in trouble. Monitored and updated when it was established he was only 'practicing'. nfa NCI No Yes
35913 13/09/2020 NCI Porthcawl CG requested any sighting of paddle boarder and swimmer reportedly 'in difficulty'. Target sighted together with safety boat and CG updated. FAWGI MCA/HMCG No Yes
35926 13/09/2020 NCI Exmouth CG requested visual check on reported flares and smoke. Target sighted and monitored. Updated CG when LBs towed casualty in after engine fire. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
35896 12/09/2020 NCI Hengistbury Head Reported to CG sight loss of two divers with float. CRT and foot patrol activated. Two possibles seen on beach. nfa NCI No Yes
35906 12/09/2020 NCI Charmouth CG requested any visual on reported cliff fall casualty. Target and her group identified. CRT confirmed her as having a broken ankle and stretchered her to the ambulance.. MCA/HMCG No Yes
36125 12/09/2020 NCI Hornsea Watchkeepers advised HMCG of kayak in difficulty. When kayak capsized WKs notified HMCG of 3 people in the water. Independent lifeboat launched and recovered 3 casualties. NCI No Yes
36873 12/09/2020 NCI Needles CG requested any sighting of PWC reported down. No sighting obtained. MCA/HMCG No Yes
35875 11/09/2020 NCI Porthcawl CG requested visual check on wind surfer reported 'in difficulty'. Target sighted and CG updated as he reached shore safely. MCA/HMCG No Yes
35878 11/09/2020 NCI Hengistbury Head CG requested observation of vulnerable person near cliff edge. Target sighted and monitored as CRT and police arrive to escort him away from edge. MCA/HMCG No Yes
35867 10/09/2020 NCI Newhaven CG requested visual check for PWC transmitting a Mayday. Not visible from the Station. CRT found casualty safe on beach. nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
35853 09/09/2020 NCI Fleetwood In contact with CG over concern for kayaker operating strangely when ashore. Continued monitoring until he appeared to be afloat again and not in any distress. CG updated. NFA NCI No Yes
35962 09/09/2020 NCI Exmouth Reported capsized kayak and PWC to CG. Updated when Water taxi and ILB assisted them to safety. NCI Yes Yes
35880 09/09/2020 NCI Penzance Received call from local boat reporting on disabled yacht. Target sighted, monitored and CG updated when the reporting boat towed it in. NCI No Yes

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