Incident Summaries

The Total Number of Incidents since we started recording them can be found by selecting '-Year' from the Year filter : 279
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.
45877 22/05/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG requested NCI look for capsized paddle board after report from MOP. Extensive search revealed nothing. No further information was forthcoming - incident closed MCA/HMCG No Yes 513854
45830 19/05/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG requested visual from NCI on vessel reported to be taking on water and had issued MayDay. Visual not possible. AWLB and HELO tasked, sailing vessel also proceeded to location. , Vessel had sunk, but one casualty recovered from water, search for second was ongoing. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 513502
45837 19/05/2023 NCI Torbay NCI received radio call from AWLB re.report of several MOP on a protected site. Nothing visible. LB searched area - nothing visible. RNLI Yes Yes n/a
45762 13/05/2023 NCI Torbay MOP fell on coast path, NCI called 999 for ambulance. NCI suggested CRT involvement, but negative response from HMCG. 2 hours later ambulance attended and transferred casualty to hospital. NCI No Yes 512788
45514 16/04/2023 NCI Torbay MOP called HMCG re. paddle boarder possibly in trouble. CG called NCI who established visual. Casualty made slow unsteady progress to beach and safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes 509769
45483 15/04/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG Called NCI Torbay MOP reported 2 girls on inflatable asked if NCI had visual-nothing found. disturbance on beach seen, but no sign of girls. CG contacted NCI to say casualties had self recovered MCA/HMCG No Yes 509620
45386 06/04/2023 NCI Torbay NCI received repeated SART alarm. Gave HMCG position, and traced to large container ship. CG contacted vessel, who apologised for not informing them of a test alarm. NCI No Yes 508510
45374 27/03/2023 NCI Torbay Vessel issued Pan Pan having broken down. NCI informed CG they had visual. Cabin cruiser came to assist, and towed casualty into harbour. Pan Pan cancelled. MCA/HMCG No Yes 507513
45275 18/03/2023 NCI Torbay NCI called by harbour master re. RIB which had not returned following a sail race. Vessel sighted by NCI, H.M and club informed. Vessel returned safely to harbour. NCI No No n/a
45234 17/03/2023 NCI Torbay RNLI asked NCI for visual on paddle boarder, reported to be possibly in distress by MOP. HMCG also requested visual. Nothing seen, W/K on scene also saw nothing. Assets stood down, NFA. RNLI Yes Yes 526552
45202 09/03/2023 NCI Torbay Car found unattended and unlocked at car park. Possible self harm. CRT tasked, as well as AWLB and ILB, Police HELO also. NCI asked to carry out search. Casualty not found, search ongoing. Fire Yes Yes 505787
45145 05/03/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. call from MOP concerned about a dinghy. Search revealed casualty being recovered up slipway, all appeared safe and well. CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 505464
44916 04/02/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. 999 call - possible body in water. Search revealed a large tree branch, reported fishing vessel nearby which could check it. Also kayaker reported but NCI aware and NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes 502886
44731 14/01/2023 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of object in water. NCI observed a wave buoy, CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 501105
44568 26/12/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. report by MOP of swimmer in difficulty. Visual established, not moving, possibly a buoy. ILB tasked, conned onto object by NCI, and confirmed it was a buoy. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 513775
44277 19/11/2022 NCI Torbay Pan Pan from cabin cruiser with engine failure. NCI had visual, HMCG informed. Second vessel undertook tow, NCI updated CG, casualty reached safety, Pan Pan cancelled. MCA/HMCG No Yes 510749
44109 02/11/2022 NCI Torbay NCI observed MOP climb fence and start to descend cliff. No sighting at ground level. HMCG informed, however casualty returned carrying rope he had retrieved. NFA but adviced to inform NCI in future. NCI No Yes 509017
44069 30/10/2022 NCI Torbay NCI observed speedboat stationary, with paddleboader alongside. 1 POB each. MOP called NCI re. boat, informed NCI aware. Appeared to have engine problem. Light was failing, and strong wind blowing., HMCG advised, they asked NCI to monitor. As light failed, light on boat seen to be East of pier, PB tied to boat, CG informed, advised NFA. NCI No Yes 508777
44050 23/10/2022 NCI Torbay NCI received call from HMCG re. report of paddle board in trouble by MOP. casualty already being monitored by NCI, no sign of distress, CG informed. casualty returned to beach safely, CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 507863
43958 16/10/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. swimmer in difficulty. Visual on CCTV established, did not appear distressed, and monitored until they left the water. MCA/HMCG No Yes 507138
43836 10/10/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG tasked NCI Torbay to monitor SUP with hand held sail drifting out to sea. AWL was launched and recovered casualty and equipment. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 506358
43785 05/10/2022 NCI Torbay NCI Torbay noted swimmer heading towards unsafe rocks and climbed on -- noted rib approach and attempt to throw line to swimmer without success - NCI contacted HMCG and was tasked to monitor, Swimmer took to the water and made own way back to beach safely NCI No Yes 505577
43718 30/09/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG tasked NCI Torbay to make visual search after red flare being reported. ILB launched . NCI gave position of Stranded vessel - were tasked to monitor situation. Casualties rescued from vessel and, taken to safety. Vessel left stranded owing to inclement weather MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 505068
43707 29/09/2022 NCI Torbay Vessel radioed stating out of fuel requesting assistance - IFV offered tow, which was accepted. NCI Torbay contacted HMCG with exact position and was tasked with monitoring situation. NCI contacted, HNCG stating vessel within breakwater MCA/HMCG No Yes 504928
43625 16/09/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. windsurfer possibly in trouble. NCI had been observing, and reported no distress. Casualty gradually made his way to beach, sailing and paddling. CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 034459
43577 14/09/2022 NCI Torbay NCI observed motor vessel foul prop on crab line. HMCG informed. HM standing by. Casualty cleared entanglement and proceeded to harbour. NFA NCI No Yes 034168
43543 12/09/2022 NCI Torbay NCI observed 2 paddle boarders come ashore and climb rocks. Harbourmaster informed, persons tomb stoning. Persons then left and returned to car and left scene. NCI No Yes n/a
43514 09/09/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG asked NCI for visual on capsized dinghy. Negative. Dionghy later righted by crew and returned to safety. MCA/HMCG No Yes 033416
43422 03/09/2022 NCI Torbay Vessel informed NCI a kite surfer was trying to paddle back to shore due to lack of wind, but indicated all was OK, NCI established visual. MOP had informed HMCG, ILB tasked. CG informed, Assets stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 032562
43355 30/08/2022 NCI Torbay NCI informed by MOP of concern for yachtsman with engine failure. radio not working and phone low battery. casualty concerned. HMCG informed, harbour master tasked and was conned onto casualty by NCI., Casualty escorted to harbour by HM. NCI No Yes 031848
43218 20/08/2022 NCI Torbay NCI called by HMCG re. drunk males on speedboats, reported by MOP. NCI observed 2 vessels but headed out of sight, and did not return to Torbay. CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 029898
43219 20/08/2022 NCI Torbay NCI observed small motor boat drifting, 5 POB. Jetski attempted recovery, took 2 persons off. HMCG advised, monitoring continued. Local vessel attended, and towed casualty to harbour. NCI No Yes 029898
43186 16/08/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG phoned NCI re. abandoned kayak, found floating. Lookout requested. AWLB and HELO tasked. Person found safely ashore having abandoned kayak, assets stood down. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 029005
42855 28/07/2022 NCI Torbay Pan Pan from motor vessel out of fuel near rock. Vessel then restarted and made way to harbour. NCI monitored and reported to HMCG. MCA/HMCG No Yes 024321
42856 28/07/2022 NCI Torbay Pan Pan from motor vessel with skipper violently ill, and drifting. NCI had visual, HMCG informed. A yacht launched a RIB and responded. Casualty towed to harbour by other vessel. MCA/HMCG No Yes 024315
42830 27/07/2022 NCI Torbay NCI observed motor boat stopped for no reason. HMCG asked NCI if they had visual, as it had broken down, 4 POB. NCI confirmed. Second vessel took casualty under tow to harbour. MCA/HMCG No Yes 024154
42812 26/07/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG tasked AWLB to yacht taking on water. NCI informed CG they had visual. LB and Harbour Master vessel on scene, and towed casualty to harbour and safety. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 023941
42768 24/07/2022 NCI Torbay Off duty W/K informed NCI about a baby seal on rocks in distress. HMCG informed, ILB engaged elsewhere, so BDMLR informed. If still there next day, would be investigated. NCI No Yes n/a
42681 17/07/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG phoned NCI re. inflatable with MOP on board reported to be drifting out to sea. NCI could not get visual. ILB tasked, NCI kept look out. Casualty picked up by other vessel, and brought to safety. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 022126
42640 14/07/2022 NCI Torbay HMCG phoned NCI re. report of a RIB in distress in area. Visual scan requested. LB observed but unconnected. Extensive search revealed nothing. NFA. MCA/HMCG No Yes 021176

About

Currently almost 60 National Coastwatch stations are operational and manned by over 2600 volunteer watchkeepers around the British Isles from Fleetwood in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Filey in North Yorkshire. 

National Coastwatch watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies offering a variety of skills and experience, and full training by the National Coastwatch ensures that high standards are met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The words National Coastwatch Institution and Eyes Along the Coast and the NCI logos are Registered Trademarks of NCI.

Contact


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Cornwall, PL14 4AB