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 : 9703
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
33127 17/11/2019 NCI Needles CG contacted over concern for 2 kayakers in possible trouble. ILB attended and found them to be safe. nfa NCI Yes Yes
33042 17/11/2019 NCI Exmouth Relayed MoP report of unidentified object on beach to CG. CRT and EOD Team attended. Object identified as wagon wheel base for mooring. nfa NCI No Yes
33005 15/11/2019 NCI Worms Head CG requested monitoring of two MoP and dog reported 'over the cliff' and weather conditions.. Updated when rescue helo and CRT attended to recover all three safely and unhurt. MCA/HMCG No Yes
32982 12/11/2019 NCI Hornsea Reported to CG two climbers having difficulty. Monitored as CRT attended to confirm them now safe. NCI No Yes
32985 12/11/2019 NCI Porthcawl In contact with CG and harbourmasters concerning foreign FV attempting a crew change in bad weather. Monitored ongoing situation and updated contacts until all observed as safe. NCI No Yes
33004 11/11/2019 NCI Calshot Tower Reported to CG that sinking yacht was visual. Updated when AWLB, ferry and police boat attended to remove crew prior to vessel actually sinking. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
32944 10/11/2019 NCI Teignmouth Reported to CG concern over a swimmer and surfboarder in dangerous conditions. Targets monitored and CG informed when both located as safe ashore. NCI No Yes
32951 07/11/2019 NCI Polruan Reported drifting vessel to CG. Monitored and updated as LB attended to tow in safely. NCI Yes Yes
32861 04/11/2019 NCI Porthcawl CG requested visual search for large object MoP reported at sea. Sweep and CRT had no sighting but ILB reported large logs which could be the object. nfa FAWGI MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
32942 04/11/2019 NCI Gosport CG requested any visual on swimmer reportedly 'in difficulty'. No sighting due to poor visibility. Updated when CRT and ambulance attended. MCA/HMCG No Yes
32844 02/11/2019 NCI Hengistbury Head Reported grounded yacht with no one onboard to CG. Local council team attended and confirmed it empty and owner informed. NCI No Yes
32819 02/11/2019 NCI Prawle Point Reported stranded whale to CG. Updated as British Divers Marine Life attended to deal with it. NCI No Yes
32821 01/11/2019 NCI Calshot Tower CG requested visual watch on downed kite surfer. Updated when ILB attended to bring him safely ashore. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
32783 31/10/2019 NCI Southend Reported to CG two MoPs in possible difficulty. CRT attended the Station to be briefed. MoPs seen to be safely fishing. nfa NCI No Yes
32806 30/10/2019 NCI Portland Bill CG requested visual check on small catamaran FV reportedly 'in trouble'. Target identified and monitored until out of sight. Presumed to be safe. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
32767 29/10/2019 NCI Bass Point CG requested visual search for capsized kayak. Target sighted and CRT updated. No casualty observed. nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
32751 28/10/2019 NCI Exmouth In contact with CG and Exmouth harbourmaster concerning drifting channel buoy. NFA as the buoy drifted out of sight. NCI No Yes
32754 28/10/2019 NCI Hengistbury Head Reported FV aground to CG. Monitored and updated when crew managed to pull her off. NCI No Yes
32768 28/10/2019 NCI Worms Head Reported to CG lone male in possible danger from tide. ILB, Helo and CRT activated but no contact. Assumed to have returned safely. nfa NCI Yes Yes
32734 27/10/2019 NCI Nells Point Reported to CG five MoPs heading for flooded causeway. CRT and ILB tasked together with Sully SC safety boat to ensure they managed to cross safely. Another 2 were brought ashore by ILB. NCI Yes Yes
32769 27/10/2019 NCI Gosport Reported visual on grounded yacht to CG. Pilot Boat and Gosport LB in attendance. Updated as crew reported being 'safe'. LB towed it off on rising tide. NCI No Yes
33014 27/10/2019 NCI Gwennap Head CG requested any observation of climber reported falling. Contact maintained with CG and ambulance crew during recovery of casualty. Accompanying climbers advised to contact NCI in emergency. MCA/HMCG No Yes
32735 27/10/2019 NCI Porthcawl Reported to CG a surfer in trouble with a kayaker and paddleboarders trying to assist. ILB and CRT attended to land all safely.ashore. NCI Yes Yes
32743 26/10/2019 NCI Boscastle CG requested visual search for missing person. CRT also engaged. No sighting obtained, MoP ultimately found safe by CRT. MCA/HMCG No Yes
32832 26/10/2019 NCI Torbay CG requested any visual contact on PWC reportedly 'broken down'. No contact sighted. NCI Froward Pt report it moving normally. nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
32784 26/10/2019 NCI Southend Reported to CG a kite-surfer trapped in boom. Monitored and updated when he managed to get clear. ILB stood down. NCI Yes Yes
32726 26/10/2019 NCI Porthdinllaen Relayed MoP report of abandoned equipment on cliff top to CG. CRT attended but no trace of owner found, nfa NCI No Yes
32733 26/10/2019 NCI Porthcawl Reported to CG one MoP stuck in mud. CRT and RNLI crew attended to pull him out safely. Other MoPs requested not to help to avoid further casualties. NCI Yes Yes
33081 21/10/2019 NCI Canvey Island Reported and monitored police attendance at Green Peace climbers and attending RIB. No casualties. NCI No Yes
32621 20/10/2019 NCI Calshot Tower Advised CG that yacht with engine failure transmitting a PanPan was visual. Updated when Hamble LB towed it in. NCI Yes Yes
33340 20/10/2019 NCI Canvey Island Reported to CG Greenpeace activists practising rock climbing . Police, ILB and Harbourmaster attended but nfa as they had permission from the ownet NCI Yes Yes
32766 19/10/2019 NCI Folkestone CG requested observation of reportedly 'suspicious' vessels. Targets identified as five kayakers. nfa MCA/HMCG No Yes
32669 18/10/2019 NCI Mundesley Relayed to CG an MoP report of youths close to danger on cliff. Updated when they were seen to move off safely. nfa NCI No Yes
32611 16/10/2019 NCI Calshot Tower CG requested observation of kite surfers reported in water. Targets identified. Updated when they reached shore safely. ILB launched and stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
32593 15/10/2019 NCI Lyme Bay Watchkeepers attended MoP collapsed on beach. Ambulance attended to casevac casualty. NCI No Yes
32682 15/10/2019 NCI Exmouth Reported grounded yacht to CG. Exmouth Water Taxi in contact and reported crew safe and awaiting incoming tide. nfa NCI No Yes
32583 14/10/2019 NCI Canvey Island Reported unusual RIB activity to CG. Police, and ILB attended and found the crews to be climbers. nfa NCI Yes Yes
32787 14/10/2019 NCI Needles Reported to CG that MB with lost steering was visual and provided accurate position. Monitored and updated when ALB attended to render assistance. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
32557 13/10/2019 NCI Porthcawl Reported to CG concern over surfer struggling in cross current. Monitored target and updated CG when seen to reach shore. CRT attended and confirmed him safe and well. nfa NCI No Yes
32577 13/10/2019 NCI Calshot Tower Reported SART Distress Alarm to CG. LB attended and alarm found to be a misfunction. nfa NCI Yes Yes

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