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 : 9992
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
51391 04/10/2024 NCI St Donat's Bay NCI observed a nudist on beach looking agitated, Police informed. Group of students advised of situation. NCI updated Police, students moved away, W/K approached casualty, who responded and , moved away until no longer visible. No Police action. NCI No No
51404 04/10/2024 NCI Bass Point NCI heard Pan Pan from yacht entangled in fishing gear. HMCG informed they had visual, monitoring requested. AWLB tasked. Second yacht asked to stand by. LB arrived and vessel appeared to have , freed itself. LB stood by to ensure all was well and casualty got under way. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51358 02/10/2024 NCI Needles Yacht called HMCG re. engine failure. CG advised to put up sail and call Seastart unless in danger. NCI had visual, CG informed. Visibility deteriorated and NCI lost contact before Seastart arrived. NCI No Yes
51372 02/10/2024 NCI Charmouth HMCG tasked ILB after report from MOP of a windsurfer in difficulty. NCI informed CG they had visual. LB confirmed casualty was in fact fine, NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51338 30/09/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed debris , possibly a boat hull, 0.8 mile from lookout. HMCG informed, ILB tasked, and NCI gave position. LB confirmed it was a section of a boat hull, and a hazard to navigation., LB towed debris to beach and secured it to rocks. NCI Yes Yes
51315 29/09/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head Pan Pan issued from ocean rowing boat, 3 POB, struggling in conditions. Tow requested. NCI eventually located vessel, which issued a second Pan Pan, and gave location to CG. ILB tasked, and casualty, by then was only 40 mtrs from shore in heavy surf. NCI updated ILB, and casualty was then washed onto beach, ILB unable to get close. ! POB had leg injury. CRT tasked. ILB stood down, and ambulance, then attended. CG kept updated of developments. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51331 29/09/2024 NCI Exmouth CRT tasked by HMCG to wing surfer in trouble. NCI informed CG theyhad observed 2 wing surfers. ILB tasked, casualties reached shore safely. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51345 29/09/2024 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed 3 surf rescue kayaks being launched on exercise. One occupant lost contact with kayak, unable to swim back and upturned kayak was being blown down channel. , HMCG informed and camera link established. Person reached shore, and ILB tasked to recover kayak, which was returned to shore. NCI Yes Yes
51306 28/09/2024 NCI Wooltack Point Yacht, 2POB, called HMCG with engine problem. other vessel unable to help so AWLB tasked. NCI gave CG exact location. LB established tow, NCI monitored situation. Casualty safely in harbour. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51300 26/09/2024 NCI Gorleston HMCG asked NCI to search for a MOP who was a potential self harmer. casualty seen talking to others and walked towards hotel. CRT directed to location. Outcome unknown. MCA/HMCG No Yes
51303 26/09/2024 NCI Padstow MOP reported to HMCG a paddle boarder in difficulty. NCI, LGs and ILB searched area but nothing seen. Assets stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51290 25/09/2024 NCI Prawle Point Vessel called HMCG re. loss of power, required assistance. NCI had visual, CG informed. ILB tasked, and towed casualty ti harbour and safety. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51311 25/09/2024 NCI Exmouth HMCG called NCI re report of windsurfer in difficulty. Several windsurfers seen, none in difficulty. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
51312 25/09/2024 NCI Exmouth NCI called HM<CG re. dinghy capsized and adrift in channel, no obvious POB. Harbour Master confirmed a tender was reported missing. LGs tasked to retrieve. NCI No Yes
51289 24/09/2024 NCI Whitstable NCI observed a cabin cruiser aground on spit. No person visible, HMCH informed, and CRT tasked. Casualty refloated on rising tide and carried on slowly. NCI Yes Yes
51291 24/09/2024 NCI Shoreham HMCG reported a kite in the sea, NCI unable to sea so W/K lest station to get a better view. Green object was observed being pulled ashore, CRT tasked to report. MCA/HMCG No Yes
51252 22/09/2024 NCI Prawle Point FV reported to HMCG a partially submerged sports boat. NCI called XG to report poor visibility so nothing seen. AWLB tasked, and checked vessel. No persons present and were unable to attach a tow line, CG informed and an 'all ships alert' was issued. RNLI Yes Yes
51256 22/09/2024 NCI Felixstowe HMCG called NCI re. 2 jet skis possibly in trouble. NCI confirmed one was being towed by the other. NCI monitored until out of sight, and appeared to be heading for safety. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
51247 21/09/2024 NCI Shoreham Yacht issued Pan Pan, NCI informed HMCG they had visual, and gave position, monitoring requested. Sailing club boat arrived and established tow to harbour, all safe. NCI No Yes
51323 21/09/2024 NCI Cape Cornwall MOP reported to HMCG a sailing vessel was in difficulty. CG could not contact vessel, so issued DSC alert and rang NCI, who identified vessel, and reported all seemed okay. MCA/HMCG No Yes
51259 21/09/2024 NCI Mundesley MOP reported to NCI a chemical container was washed up onto beach. HMCG informed, photos provided. CG decided no action was required and not recorded. NCI No Yes
51260 21/09/2024 NCI Gosport Pan Pan issued by motor vessel with engine failure. NCI had visual, HMCG informed. RIB undertook tow, Harbour Master informed, who asked ILB to assist. Vessel safely moored. MCA/HMCG No Yes
51310 21/09/2024 NCI Exmouth NCI called HMCG re. dinghy with engine failure adrift in channel, 4 POB. ILB and LGs tasked, and casualty towed to safety by LB. NCI Yes Yes
51245 21/09/2024 NCI Bass Point NCI observed a commercial vessel anchored in exclusion zone close to undersea cables. BT marine informed, who informed HMCG. CG asked vessel for position, and it agreed to move., Vessel then moved to a more suitable anchorage. NCI No Yes
51238 20/09/2024 NCI Worms Head NCI observed 2 MOP trying to cross causeway. Alarm sounded and advised to return. HMCG informed, CRT and ILB tasked. casualties recovered by LB and returned to mainland, met by CRT. All safe. NCI Yes Yes
51242 20/09/2024 NCI Newhaven NCI heard radio traffic re. vessel aground. NCI just established visual, and saw CRT arrive. MOP then called NCI re. incident, 3 POB. CG informed. Further report followed, and history supplied by, local marine company. Casualty vessel was then towed back to marina the next day. MCA/HMCG No Yes
51244 20/09/2024 NCI Swanage MOP informed NCI a yacht had sunk on its mooring, HMCG informed. CG requested NCI monitor and report any changes. Camera used to monitor. NFA. MMO No Yes
51229 19/09/2024 NCI Exmouth NCI Exmouth overheard HMCG tasked ILB to search for lost kayakers. NCI continued monitoring. Casualties recovered to shore MCA/HMCG No Yes
51231 19/09/2024 NCI Fleetwood NCI Fleetwood observed empty craft adrift - informed HMCG who tasked NCI to monitor.-position given to CG- nearby vessel called CH65 informing they had taken the craft to safety NCI No Yes
51233 19/09/2024 NCI Prawle Point Two walkers arrived at NCI Prawle Point with one with injured leg. NCI contacted HMCG and CRT was tasked and ambulance liaised with them. casualty had broken leg, CRT departed NCI to minor injuries dept NCI No Yes
51235 19/09/2024 NCI Moelfre HMCG tasked NCI Moelfre to monitor ch16and relay unanswered messages as power outage stopped all comms - 2 hrs later all comms restored to CG MCA/HMCG No Yes
51253 18/09/2024 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed a wing surfer struggling against tide, drifting down channel and falling into water. HM<CG informed, camera link established. MOP also reported incident. Casualty reached rocks, clambered, up rocks to safety having deflated wing. All safe. NCI No Yes
51219 18/09/2024 NCI Rhoscolyn HMCG received call from vessel with engine failure at anchor/ NCI Rhoscolyn contacted CG advising had eyes on casualty - LB tasked - NCI asked to monitor until safely in harbour - done MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51218 18/09/2024 NCI Calshot Tower MOP called NCI Calshot Tower re swimmer in difficulty - HMCG contacted - local wing boarder missing - LB tasked - NCI Stone Point tasked to make beach patrol, All stood down after casualty made own way to beach. NCI Yes Yes
51288 18/09/2024 NCI Polruan Yacht issued a Pan Pan re- halyard jammed and engine failed to start. NCI had logged vessel earlier, 4 POB. NCI confirmed visual with HMCG, no immediate danger. 2 vessels responded, and yacht , established tow. In harbour, harbour commissioners vessel towed casualty to mooring. All safe. MCA/HMCG No Yes
51224 18/09/2024 NCI Shoreham RNLI asked NCI Shreham to make visual search for 2 SUP reported in difficulty. ILB launched, NCI advised CG nothing seen. ILB confirmed nothing seen - all stood down RNLI No Yes
51211 17/09/2024 NCI Gwennap Head Mayday broadcast from YBS become grounded on Runnelstone reef - location incorrect -NCI contacted HMCG with correct position and Eyes On. AWLB tasked. NCI observed life raft launched . Updated CG., LB recovered crew and on high tide the casualty re floated and taken in tow MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51203 16/09/2024 NCI Wells-next-the-Sea MOP prone on beach being supported by 3 others - ambulance called - HN+MCG tasked CRT, who evacuated casualty to car park. Attended by paramedic. MCA/HMCG No Yes
51213 16/09/2024 NCI Nells Point HMCG contacted NCI Nells Point re person attempting to cross causeway waist deep in water-NCI confirmes had visual - requested immediate assistance as casualty out of depth. -ILB tasked , recovered to, beach MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
51198 15/09/2024 NCI Boscastle NCI Boscastle on opening observed ILB - contacted HMCG - tasked NCI to assist ILB with bearing and distance of fishing vessel with engine failure, done. NCI monitored ILB and casualty taken in tow - NCI stood down NCI Yes Yes

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