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
46968 10/08/2023 NCI Chapel Point HMCG requested CCTV footage from NCI after report of child washed out to sea. After scrutiny of tide and wind data, search moved away from NCI area so NCI stood down. Outcome unknown MCA/HMCG No Yes
46973 10/08/2023 NCI Filey MOP informed NCI her husband was injured on the beach, and in extreme pain. HMCG and local LGs informed, CRT tasked. NCI monitored situation, CRT gave initial first aid, and casualty transferred to , hospital with suspected ruptured achilles tendon. NCI No Yes
46980 10/08/2023 NCI Porthcawl Cabin cruiser advised NCI of passage plan, but told to advise HMCG. Vessel seen leaving marina, 2 POB, but stopped off breakwater. Vessel called CG they had broken down, NCI confirmed visual., ILB tasked, casualty called NCI who confirmed ILB would be there to assist. ILB towed casualty to marina. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
46958 09/08/2023 NCI St Alban's Head Yacht advised NCI they had a fuel leak, diesel in bilges, unable to hoist sail as keeling over made leak worse. 1 POB. Proceeding under power. HMCG informed, contacted casualty, who confirmed it, was making own way to port. Leak stopped. NFA NCI No Yes
46959 09/08/2023 NCI Newhaven MOP called HMCG re. 2 MOP in small boat possibly in trouble. CG called NCI requesting visual. NCI reported people concerned were placing lobster pots, and were safe. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
46957 09/08/2023 NCI St Alban's Head MayDay from yacht which had hit rocks. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. Second yacht offered assistance. NCI given permission to con AWLB and ILB to casualty, on Ch0. casualty advised no water, ingress, so downgraded to Pan Pan. NCI gave weather update. AWLB placed crew mwember on vessel, second vessel stood by. NCI stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
47133 08/08/2023 NCI Padstow NCI observed motor vessel, 2 POB with rods, with fouled prop. waving for assistance. HMCG informed. Fishing vessel went to assist, cleared prop and restarted engine. Casualty returned, CG informed. NCI No Yes
47012 07/08/2023 NCI Moelfre Small fishing vessel, 2 POB, broken down - waving to attract attention from NCI. HMCG informed. Second vessel tried to assist. AWLB tasked, NCI gave weather report. Engine restarted, vessel escorted, to port safely. NCI Yes Yes
46933 07/08/2023 NCI Gosport Pan Pan from vessel with engine failure. HMCG asked NCI if they could identify vessel - negative. After further info. NCI located vessel. Local LB tasked. NCI conned LB onto casualty., LB towed casualty to safety of harbour. MCA/HMCG No Yes
46936 07/08/2023 NCI St Alban's Head NCI were informed by instructor a climber was in difficulty on cliff. HMCG informed, dive boat offered assistance. ILB and AWLB tasked, casualty fell into water, accompanied by instructor., Dive boat recovered casualty and along with LBs took them ashore. Injury to lower back. NCI Yes Yes
46947 07/08/2023 NCI Mablethorpe Police asked NCI for assistance with location of missing person acting suspiciously. person located by CCTV, LGs contacted. Person seen in various locations and located by Police. NFA Police No Yes
46912 06/08/2023 NCI Lyme Bay MOP handed in a bullet to NCI, found on beach. HMCG informed, photo sent. CG confirmed it was a dummy, and inert, Police to collect in next few days., UPDATE - several more bullets handed in to NCI over next two days. Situation still ongoing. NCI No Yes
46920 06/08/2023 NCI Worms Head MOP on small boat reported they were unable to get to port due to wind and swell. HMCG informed, CRT and ILB tasked. ILB escorted vessel to port. NCI Yes Yes
46923 06/08/2023 NCI Llandudno 3 Children, later joined by 1 adult, cut off by incoming tide. HMCG informed, casualties self rescued through knee deep water. NCI No Yes
46924 06/08/2023 NCI Fleetwood NCI observed 1 MOP + 2 dogs being cut off by tide. CRT tasked and assisted casualty to shore - advice given. All safe. NCI No Yes
46925 06/08/2023 NCI Fleetwood HMCG requested NCI look out for vulnerable adult, threatening self harm. Extensive search revealed nothing. Later casualty seen getting into taxi. MCA/HMCG No Yes
46935 06/08/2023 NCI Porthcawl MOP informed NCI an elderly gent had fallen off mobility scooter on slipway. HMCG informed. CRT and LGs tasked, visual not possible as behind building. Delay in ambulance attending so casualty , decided to leave on his scooter. NFA NCI No Yes
46899 05/08/2023 NCI St Alban's Head MOP informed NCI they found live ammunition on beach. HMCG informed, Public advised to stay clear, photos sent to CG. Military informed and dealt with it. NCI No Yes
46900 05/08/2023 NCI Rhoscolyn HMCG called NCI re. report of Paddle Boarder in difficulty. NCI established visual, clinging to anchored boat. Offshore wind, ebbing tide. Shore party tried to help - unsuccessful. CRT and ILB tasked, and ILB recovered casualty. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
46906 05/08/2023 NCI Rhoscolyn MOP informed NCI her friend had fallen on coast path and damaged her ankle. HMCG informed, CRT tasked, W/K assisted with access. CRT recovered casualty to meet ambulance. NCI No Yes
46907 04/08/2023 NCI Fleetwood NCI informed HMCG a yacht appeared to be adrift. ILB tasked, but when arrived, vessel was at anchor with 1 POB. NFA NCI Yes Yes
46915 04/08/2023 NCI Felixstowe 999 call to HMCG re. fishing vessel grounded and sinking in river mouth. Other vessels attached lines to strike vessel. NCI requested to monitor. ILB at scene, but returned to base. Vessel remained on, its side, despite attempts to correct, No casualties. Situation unaltered all next day, and ongoing. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
46918 04/08/2023 NCI Felixstowe NCI observed capsized dinghy in shipping channel, HMCG informed. Pilot vessel tasked, to rendezvous with ILB. Object identified as tender from yacht, which was towed to harbour. NCI Yes Yes
46987 04/08/2023 NCI Porthdinllaen MOP reported to NCI a swimmer was in difficulty. HMCG informed. Man observed scrambling onto rocks, AWLB tasked. NCI told casualty to stay on rocks, AWLB launched Y boat to recover casualty. NCI Yes Yes
46883 04/08/2023 NCI Nells Point HMCG called NCI re. RIB with engine failure. NCI had visual, asked to monitor casualty and LGs on jetski attending. ILB tasked and towed RIB back to safety, met by CRT. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
46885 04/08/2023 NCI Prawle Point HMCG called NCI asking for visual of angling charter with engine failure. NCI confirmed, gave position, POB, and nearby vessels. ILB tasked and towed casualty to harbour. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
46849 03/08/2023 NCI Nare Point NCI opened station and saw a drifting inflatable with outboard. HMCG informed and given details of nearby vessels. Yacht informed CG they were taking dinghy under tow, and considered it to have broken, mooring up river. Yacht towed dinghy to sailing club pontoon. NCI No Yes
46862 03/08/2023 NCI Prawle Point HMCG called NCI re. kayaker reported to be in trouble. NCI had visual, no problem apparent. NCI advised CG of vessels in area, one of which CG asked to investigate. Kayaker proceeded safely onwards. MCA/HMCG No Yes
46863 03/08/2023 NCI Prawle Point HMCG called NCI re. RIB washed ashore. RIB not visible to NCI. CRT secured RIB above high water mark. Harbour informed, owner to be contacted. MCA/HMCG No Yes
46873 03/08/2023 NCI Torbay NCI called by HMCG re. 4 kayakers in distress, reported by MOP. NCI established visual, casualties heading for beach, no apparent distress. kayakers eventually lost to sight, but not in distress. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
46874 03/08/2023 NCI Torbay Yacht called NCI on Ch65 with flat battery. NCI called harbour master, who said he would send assistance. Yacht then reported engine started, so assets stood down. NCI No Yes
46877 03/08/2023 NCI Fleetwood May Day from vessel front of NCI, HMCG tasked ILB and AWLB, line around prop. LBs pumped water from vessel, and towed it back to harbour, NCI monitored situation, and conned LB to position. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
46878 03/08/2023 NCI Bass Point HMCG called NCI asking to look for 2 persons on one Paddle Board. NCI established visual, casualties drifting out to sea. CG informed - seemed in distress and no lifejackets. AWLB tasked, recovered, both casualties and board back to LB station. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
46894 03/08/2023 NCI Felixstowe NCI observed object in water, HMCG informed. CRT tasked, and concerns due to previous days incident (I/R 46891). Object believed to be floating weed clump. NFA NCI No Yes
46848 02/08/2023 NCI Southend NCI observed commercial fishing vessel aground on sandbank. HMCG informed, no distress signal heard. Passing vessel confirmed situation. NCI closed down while incident ongoing, waiting for tide.. NCI No Yes
46887 02/08/2023 NCI Rhoscolyn MOP informed NCI a girl had injured her ankle, possibly broken. HMCG informed, CRT tasked. Casualty kept comfortable by MOP, W/K monitored. CRT had difficulty recovering casualty by foot as no , vehicle access. Ambulance eventually dispatched, and although NCI closed for evening, W/K monitored privately and coordinated rendezvous between ambulance and CRT. NCI No Yes
46891 02/08/2023 NCI Felixstowe NCI were informed of a major search for a MISPER, assistance requested. CRT, ILB, AWLB involved after wheelchair found abandoned. NCI searched with Binos and camera, and reviewed CCTV footage., CG HELO tasked, and FW Aircraft then joined search. All day search continued with no conclusion - casualty not located. MCA/HMCG No Yes
46838 01/08/2023 NCI Lyme Bay Yacht being monitored by NCI was lost to view and AIS in deteriorating weather. HMCG informed of concern. Eventually sighted, CG informed, who continued to monitor. , Vessel later confirmed to be in harbour, and AIS track showed a gap during the time of concern. NCI No Yes
46839 01/08/2023 NCI Exmouth NCI observed 3 swimmers in mid channel with passenger vessel approaching. NCI unable to contact vessel. LGs advised, swimmers returned to shore. HMCG informed of event. NCI No Yes
46842 01/08/2023 NCI Southend Off duty W/K observed a windsurfer in difficulty when station was closed. SM advised HMCG, and station opened by passing W/K ILB tasked and prepared to launch. CRT tasked. Casualty recovered by ILB., Handed over to CRT, Ambulance not required, as casualty recovered while in care of CRT. NCI Yes Yes

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