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 : 8657
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 MCA No.
38681 04/07/2021 NCI Llandudno 2 MOP observed by NCI on sand bar putting themselves in danger. NCI attempted to warn them. HMCG contacted, ILB and HELO tasked, recovered casualties from deep water, who refused further medical help. NCI Yes Yes 022953
38506 04/07/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Ferry reported to HMCG capsized yacht. NCI had visual. 3 POB, all with lifejackets. Casualties recovered by Harbour Patrol, LB on scene. Attempt to right dinghy. All safe. NCI Yes Yes 020129
38517 04/07/2021 NCI Hengistbury Head HMCG requested visual on vessel with smoking engine. Sighting confirmed. LB tasked, put crew member on board and escorted vessel to harbour and safety MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 020204
38519 04/07/2021 NCI Hornsea MOP reported suspect munitions in front of lookout. HMCG informed. Object had been moved to ramp. Update confirmed object part of WW2 rocket. Bomb Disposal declared it safe NCI No Yes 020173
38525 03/07/2021 NCI Needles NCI reported to HMCG that tanker was on course to enter channel while yacht race under way. HMCG requested to alter course, but declined. Sailing club vessel escorted tanker through fleet. NCI observe NCI No Yes 019913
38491 03/07/2021 NCI Prawle Point Yacht with fuel problems requests tow on Ch67. One boat telephoned NCI, who are aware, and reported to HMCG. Both observed until enter harbour safely NCI No Yes 019985
38493 03/07/2021 NCI Wooltack Point HMCG phoned NCI concerned about divers. 2 divers picked up by dive boat. ILB tasked to 3rd diver, but he made his own way to safety CRT interviewed. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 019965
38494 03/07/2021 NCI Fleetwood Pan Pan heard on CH 16. RIB with 4 POB drifting. NCI informed HMCG of position. ILB tasked, and conned to casualty. Towed to safety by ILB NCI Yes Yes 020007
38496 03/07/2021 NCI Rame Head Fishing vessl lost power and drifting. HMCG tasked AWLB, and asked NCI to monitor. Vessel towed to harbour MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 020006
38503 03/07/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Pan Pan from yacht in collision, holed and taking in water. NCI told HMCG had visual. LBs tasked. 1 injury. Vessel towed to safety MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 020016
38472 02/07/2021 NCI Brancaster (Satellite) MOP reported to NCI that he had observed possible ordnance protruding from sand at river mouth. HMCG informed. Tide had come in by then, so matter put on hold until low water. NCI No Yes 010756
38488 02/07/2021 NCI Exmouth HMCG requested surveillance following MOP stranded in mud. Nothing seen. Lifeguards tasked, then stood down. MCA/HMCG No Yes 019790
38611 01/07/2021 NCI Nare Point Yacht aground, 2 persons visible. ILB tasked and took casualties on board. HMCG advised yacht will be refloated on rising tide. NCI Yes Yes 01669
38462 01/07/2021 NCI Porthcawl HMCG asked NCI to lookout for 2 kayakers possibly in difficulty. Sea conditions getting worse. I kayaker ashore safely, other observed, and finally made it to safety. Lifeguards confirmed all Ok. MCA/HMCG No Yes 019618
38450 29/06/2021 NCI Bass Point NCI received urgent request on Ch 65 for medical help for coasteerer with back injury. HMCG informed. CRT tasked. Casualty treated on scene by doctor, then removed to ambulance. Outcome unknown. NCI No Yes 019365
38424 28/06/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Yacht called Pan Pan, not heard by HMCG. Yacht had rope around propellor. Harbour Master sent boat to assist. Outcome unknown NCI No Yes 018905
38433 28/06/2021 NCI Newhaven HMCG requested information on motorised kayak found on beach. No information, but similar vessel seen a week ago. Extensive search by LB, HELO, CRT, and CCTV. Nothing found MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 019250
38412 27/06/2021 NCI Penzance NCI monitored 2 kayakers. Contacted HMCG as deteriorating conditions put them at risk. ILB tasked. 1 kayaker self rescued, the other rescued by ILB NCI Yes Yes 019607
38426 27/06/2021 NCI Porthcawl HMCG contacted NCI re. MOP fallen off jetski. NCI had visual. ILB tasked. No rider visible. Casualty on beach, and remounted jetski .NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 019101
38441 27/06/2021 NCI Southend MOP potentially walking into danger. HMCG informed. ILB tasked, but casualty walked back to shore. Advice given. NCI Yes Yes 019068
38444 27/06/2021 NCI Felixstowe MOP reported to NCI windsurf board adrift. HMCG contacted, aware of situation. ILB launched, and CRT tasked. 2 windsurfers safely ashore themselves. RNLI Yes Yes 019087
38410 26/06/2021 NCI Rame Head Yacht called HMCG to report unable to start engine, and battery flat. Trying to sail but in difficulty.. HMCG called NCI for visual, which NCI had. Another yacht provided jump leads. MCA/HMCG No Yes 018930
38425 26/06/2021 NCI Porthcawl MOP called HMCG child breathing difficulty . NCI used CCTV for visual. Lifeguards in attendance. Child was safe and well. MCA/HMCG No Yes 018936
38403 26/06/2021 NCI Llandudno Quad bike observed on sand bank, apparently broken down. Tide coming in. Adult and child present. HMCG informed. Bike pushed to safety and advice given about tides and their dangers. NCI No Yes 018874
38408 25/06/2021 NCI Charmouth MOP reported finding metal box at low water line. HMCG informed, photo sent, EOD examined photo and decided no danger. CRT and MOP were meant to meet next day but did not show NCI No Yes 018764
38464 25/06/2021 NCI Shoreham HMCG heard May Day from yacht, modified to Pan Pan. Yacht of same name observed, and contacted by NCI and confirmed it was vessel involved. Vessel reached safety MCA/HMCG No Yes 018763
38554 25/06/2021 NCI Folkestone May Day heard from yacht, no detail, or response. Reported to HMCG, incident declared and assets deployed. No details of outcome. NCI No Yes n/a
38585 25/06/2021 NCI Gosport DSC Distress call received. Vessel hit submerged barrier. Advised HMCG we have visual. Police launch attending. 4 casualties, one dislocated shoulder. Vessel underway, NFA Police No Yes 018784
38388 24/06/2021 NCI Rame Head Dive Boat observed on protected wreck, items thrown overboard. Long Room informed, Police launch tasked, and vessel reported to be using sonar, without permission. Crew reminded of protocol NCI No No POL 91
38395 24/06/2021 NCI Torbay NCI overheard HMCG calling CRT about car over cliff. CCTV deployed to monitor. Air Ambulance, AWLB, ILB on scene. Casualty safely recovered, car stabilised MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 018617
38386 23/06/2021 NCI Exmouth Report of PWC broken down. ILB launched, NCI located casualty on CCTV, and reported to HMCG. ILB towed casualty to safety NCI Yes Yes 018550
38376 22/06/2021 NCI Nells Point MsOP observed on Island just before causeway closed. HMCG informed. ILB and CRT tasked. 2 casualties rescued, others stayed on island. NCI Yes Yes 018342
38384 22/06/2021 NCI Portscatho CRT asked NCI for assistance to locate casualty on beach. Casualty located, CRT and HMCG advised, casualty taken to hospital by ambulance.. MCA/HMCG No Yes 018313
38387 22/06/2021 NCI Calshot Tower Pan Pan from Motor cruiser lost engine and steering. HMCG informed. LB tasked and towed casualty to harbour. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 018365
38584 22/06/2021 NCI Gosport Heard Mayday - person in water. Advised HMCG incident not visible from lookout. Police launch took casualty to safety - no further assistance required. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes 018308
38375 21/06/2021 NCI Exmouth HMCG requested visual on potential suicide on cliffs. Monitored by CCTV. ILB and CRT tasked. Casualty taken into Police care. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 018256
38382 21/06/2021 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed 2 MOP cut off by tide. HMCG informed. NCI monitored on CCTV, kept HMCG updated, and both casualties walked to safety when tide receded NCI No Yes 018254
38440 20/06/2021 NCI Southend MOP informed NCI 3 boys crossing channel to wreck. HMCG informed. LB tasked, but already at scene. Boys returned to shore safely. NCI Yes Yes 018136
38463 20/06/2021 NCI Shoreham Pan Pan from cabin cruiser with engine failure. HMCG unable to get position, but NCI located and passed position to CG. NCI stood down as vessel not in danger and LB not on station MCA/HMCG No Yes 018157
38346 19/06/2021 NCI Worms Head HMCG asked NCI for visal on a yacht. Nothing seen, or on AIS. Other vessel asked to investigate. HMCG considered incident a Hoax MCA/HMCG No Yes 018048

© National Coastwatch Institution 2012-2025
Registered Charity No. 1159975