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 : 9701
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
39755 06/09/2021 NCI Shoreham MOP reported to HMCG children tombstoning from breakwater. NCI informed, and W/K advised children of danger and they agreed to stop. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
39349 06/09/2021 NCI Nells Point HMCG phoned NCI re. MOP reporting calls for help and whistle. No visual due to fog. CRT and AWLB tasked. casualty recovered safe and well by ILB. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39362 05/09/2021 NCI Felixstowe MOP called 999 re. swimmer in difficulty. HMCG called NCI, who had casualty in sight. . ILB tasked, and crew member assisted casualty to safety, and in care of ambulance. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39335 05/09/2021 NCI Nells Point NCI advised HMCG 8 MOP on island, cut off by tide. Casualties contacted CG by phone, and ILB tasked and recovered all casualties to mainland NCI No Yes
39324 04/09/2021 NCI Nells Point NCI observed walker struggling to cross flooded causeway. HMCG informed, requested NCI monitor. Casualty fell, but recovered, and reached mainland. NFA. 1 other plus dog seem camping on island NCI No Yes
39329 04/09/2021 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent NCI requested HMCG respond to Pan Pan relay from yacht dismasted and fouled propellor. Other yacht assisting. LB attended, restored power and escorted casualty to harbour. All safe. NCI Yes Yes
39332 04/09/2021 NCI Charmouth Call from Lyme Bay NCI re. lone paddle boader travelling east, long way off shore. W/K told HMCG no visual but several boats in area, with no sign of problem. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
39328 03/09/2021 NCI Penzance CRT tasked re. clothes found on beach. HMCG requested NCI do visual search, ILB also involved. Nothing found, search discontinued MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39330 03/09/2021 NCI Newhaven MOP reported to NCI small dinghy drifting out to sea. HMCG advised, and NCI requested to continue observation. Dinghy then moved, engine working. NFA NCI No Yes
39451 02/09/2021 NCI Rhoscolyn HMCG requested visual on unattended rucksack and boots. CRT guided to items. climbers appeared and assumed items were theirs . NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes
39372 02/09/2021 NCI Hornsea NCI observed upturned kayak with 2 people in water. 999 to advise HMCG. While providing information, 1 casualty managed to stand, and pulled kayak to shore, with second casualty. NFA NCI No Yes
39334 02/09/2021 NCI Nells Point NCI observed dinghy capsize, occupant in difficulty. HMCG informed, but while on phone, vessel righted and continued to sail around bay. NCI No Yes
39280 01/09/2021 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed MOP fall on rocks. 999 for ambulance, W/K gave first aid equipment to relative. CRT tasked, assisted casualty to promenade, and transported to hospital by relative. NCI No Yes
39279 31/08/2021 NCI Newhaven HMCG phoned NCI re. swimmer not returned. Visual requested, nothing seen. HELO and LB tasked, extensive search, nothing seen. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39304 31/08/2021 NCI Portland Bill Yacht reported loose keel and water ingress. Position relayed to HMCG. AWLB tasked and towed casualty plus 8 POB to harbour. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39654 31/08/2021 NCI Nare Point Yacht reported to HMCG a life raft had fallen overboard and unable to recover. NCI had visual on both. Life raft recovered by motor boat and taken to sailing club. NCI No Yes
39262 31/08/2021 NCI Fleetwood RNLI requested NCI look out for RIB with 3 POB in channel. HMCG advised and requested NCI monitor. CG advised vessels when approaching. RIB returned to shore safely RNLI No Yes
39316 30/08/2021 NCI Needles Pan Pan from vessel with engine failure. NCI told HMCG they had visual. Seastart contacted, NCI gave position, and Seastart towed casualty to safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes
39241 30/08/2021 NCI Fleetwood NCI reported to HMCG 4 MOP in danger playing on sandbank. NCI used megaphone to warn of danger and they moved to beach. NCI No Yes
39247 30/08/2021 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent Dinghy observed to capsize by NCI. Unable to right itself. HMCG informed. Second dinghy assisted and both made way to shore. NCI No Yes
39260 30/08/2021 NCI Exmouth HMCG requested assistance from NCI to search for 3 POB reported drifting offshore in inflatable. CG confirmed all safe MCA/HMCG No Yes
39229 29/08/2021 NCI Lyme Bay NCI contacted by HMCG re. speed boat broken down. Visual established, position updated. passing vessel tries to tow, and ILB tasked and takes over tow. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39236 29/08/2021 NCI Nells Point May Day from cabin cruiser, 4 POB with engine failure. HMCG advised NCI had visual, and gave position. AWLB tasked, given position by NCI, and towed to harbour. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39318 29/08/2021 NCI Gosport Pan Pan from yacht with engine failure. NCI had visual, and informed HMCG. Other yacht assisted, and towed casualty to safety. Pan Pan not cancelled. MCA/HMCG No Yes
39411 29/08/2021 NCI Padstow NCI noted radio comms between HMCG and vessel re. Man overboard. CG requested visual, negative, NCi suggested location. NCI saw person pulled from water, CG informed ILB tasked to intercept. All safe. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39261 29/08/2021 NCI Exmouth HMCg requested NCI keep look out for yacht reported missing. CG reported incident closed MCA/HMCG No Yes
39225 28/08/2021 NCI Stone Point NCI informed HMCG 2 paddle boarders in water. Local boats and doctor attended. 1 casualty needed medical attention. LB and HELO tasked. HELO recovered 1, and LB recovered 1 plus 2 others NCI Yes Yes
40076 28/08/2021 NCI Moelfre HMCG requested NCI information on RIB harassing other craft. NCI had visual. HMCG asked Police to interview occupants when they land. MCA/HMCG No Yes
39297 28/08/2021 NCI Exmouth NCI observed 2 paddle boaders drifting erratically on flood tide. HMCG informed of potential danger. Continued observation until safely ashore. NCI No Yes
39263 28/08/2021 NCI Portscatho MOP reported to NCI concern for lone swimmer. NCI had visual, not apparently in distress. HMCG informed, NCI asked to monitor. Swimmer eventually appeared to reach beach safely NCI No Yes
39214 28/08/2021 NCI St Alban's Head 2 Cyclists advised NCI that 1 had fallen off his bike and hit his head. HMCG advised, ambulance called, casualty taken to A&E. NCI No Yes
39215 28/08/2021 NCI Llandudno 2 MOP observed by NCI on sand bank trying to wade ashore on incoming tide. ILB tasked, CRT and W/K saw them ashore, gave advice, ILB stood down. NCI Yes Yes
39259 28/08/2021 NCI Felixstowe Pan Pan issued by yacht with engine failure, requesting tow. Local patrol rib answered call, and towed to safety of marina MCA/HMCG No Yes
39216 28/08/2021 NCI Llandudno HMCG received report of 2 swimmers possibly in trouble. CCTV requested, observed swimming to rescue raft, not in danger. ILB and CRTtasked, but swimmers dived in and swam back to shore, ILB stood down MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39220 28/08/2021 NCI Newhaven HMCG phoned NCI re. broken down jetski. Visual confirmed and advised commercial rib was close by. AWLB tasked, guided by NCI, and towed jet ski and casualties to harbour and safety. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39489 28/08/2021 NCI Rhoscolyn Yacht aground. Reported position to HMCG and also other vessels in area. HMCG requested any vessel to assist. Casualty towed into deeper water. NCI No Yes
39202 27/08/2021 NCI Prawle Point NCI heard report of unmanned dinghy. Out of visual range but NCI informed CG they would look out for it. MCA/HMCG No Yes
39207 27/08/2021 NCI Prawle Point MOP called HMCG re. possible disappearance of paddleboaders and sighting of deflated boards. NCI had visual on boards. ILB tasked. Casualties found safe - had deflated own boards MCA/HMCG Yes Yes
39224 27/08/2021 NCI Charlestown NCI alerted HMCG 3 MOP cut off by tide on beach. CRT tasked, NCI kept visual. casualties waded to safety, CRT gave advice. NCI No Yes
39232 26/08/2021 NCI Shoreham HMCG contacted NCI re. Paddle border in difficulty. Visual obtained, and casualty returned to shore unaided MCA/HMCG No Yes

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