EXMOUTH NCI INCIDENTS  – 2022

30 December Call from MoP, fishing vessel drifting, having slipped mooring. No persons onboard. NCI informed HMCG and left message with HM. Visual on Exe SC CCTV. Duty Officer also informed as single watch. HMCG requested description of vessel, identification, position. Powered dinghy with one person alongside grounded IFV. IFV and one person able to return to mooring under own power. HMCG and MoP informed of return of IFV to mooring. Position 347 degrees from CCTV camera. HMCG unable to access screen.

24 December NCI observed a man and woman “dancing” at Orcombe Point. Appeared unaware of rising tide. Spoke to HMCG as rising tide was about to cut them off. Diminishing light making it difficult to observe. Further call to CG as both persons managed to climb across rocks to steps and safety.

21 December Call about dog on cliff at Orcombe Point. Informed HMCG that NCI have CCTV on cliff, but no visual of dog. CCTV visual of Exmouth and Dawlish mobile CRT teams on site. Informed CG. RNLI ILB deployed. Dog later recovered.

2 December Phone call to advise that sailing cruiser passing 12 Buoy has been struggling up the River Exe over the last few days. NCI unable to make judgement in the time they could see the vessel. Call to HMCG to advise. CG will not take any action but will monitor if necessary.

18 November Call from speedboat, engine failure, attempting tow with tender from Starcross to Mamhead slipway. Tender unable to tow. NCI called Harbour Master on Ch12 for assistance. Harbour Master called HMCG for assistance. RNLI ILB launched. NCI informed CG of speedboat location. Speedboat and casualties safely at slipway following tow from ILB.

13 November Informed HMCG of wing surfer in trouble. Asked to observe. CG tasked ILB. Found casualty on CCTV on beach. ILB informed. Casualty safe. HMCG and ILB informed.

12 November NCI observed large log in estuary. No response Ch12. Object grounded 297 degrees from lookout at 200 metres. Hazard acknowledged on Ch14. Informed HMCG. Advised observation and call back if concerned. NFA taken.

30 October HMCG contacted ILB about 2 windsurfers struggling in the River Exe (Duck Pond area). ILB launched. Windsurfers boarded a moored yacht. ILB contacted NCI for CCTV visual. Informed CG we had visual on CCTV. ILB alongside yacht. Both casualties on shore and being taken for medical assessment.

28 October NCI observed fisherman to be cut off by tide on Polesands. Contacted HMCG and advised of ongoing situation. ILB launched. Fisherman wading towards Dawlish Warren. Fisherman observed to reach Dawlish Warren. HMCG advised accordingly. Exmouth NCI to spoke to crew of ILB on VHF to direct them to casualty. ILB spoke to casualty, advised HMCG and stood down.

27 October Call from MoP reporting kite surfer in water for 20 mins+ and appears to be struggling. NCI reported to HMCG and advised we were monitoring on CCTV. CG linked onto CCTV visual. CG advised they would monitor and decide what/if action required. No further action required by NCI.

25 October Out on exercise involving NCI, ILB spot yacht in difficulty and go to check. NCI observed as ILB guide yacht into channel. NCI asked to continue surveillance to safe haven. Confirmed to HMCG that yacht now safe.

8 October NCI observed yacht behaving strangely. Reported to HMCG and requested they observe on CCTV. HMCG observed. No further action.

4 October Call from HMCG, Solent, requesting assistance to locate yacht 3 miles off shore. Damaged rigging and no power.
Advised CG of visual on CCTV and optics. Able to confirm issues. RNLI / AWL launched AWL along side yacht to establish tow. AWL and casualty passed NCI lookout. Heading for safe mooring. Incident concluded.

27 September  HMCG called as MoP reported three swimmers clinging onto a channel marker and maybe in difficulty. Solent CG rang again to say MoP had reported swimmers were OK. NCI sighted, via CCTV, two swimmers with floats going ashore. No swimmers seen on marker buoys. NCI stood down.

14 September Call from HMCG following 999 call from MoP. Two people in pink inflatable floating out to sea. Direction from Dawlish boathouse. Area search with optics found no trace. Return call from Solent CG. Casualties self rescued to Dawlish beach.

12 September Large 3 metre driftwood sighted in Exe Channel. Position 50 metres south of No 10 buoy. Floating East on outgoing tide. HMCG informed of potential hazard to mariners. NCI maintained visual until hazard out of range.

9 September Telephone call from HMCG as MoP had called 999 to report two kite surfers in difficulty. No visual on CCTV or through optics, checked bearing SE 149 degrees. Nothing noted.

30 August Phone call from MoP , expressing concern for safety of young female on ledge below cliff path who appeared agitated and upset. MoP will remaining to observe. Advised MoP that NCI will call HMCG. HMCG Informed. Casualty left site with police.

29 August Endeavoured to establish visual on windsurfer reported to HMCG as in trouble. Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) launched. Casualty later found safely ashore and ILB stood down.

29 August Following launch of Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) to yacht broken down in estuary contacted HMCG and maintained observation. ILB towed yacht into marina. Updated HMCG.

29 August Report received from MoP by HMCG of speedboat with 3 POB under tow by second speedboat. Maintained observation. Confirmed to HMCG when safely ashore.

19 August MoP advised NCI that his wife had fallen on the beach and damaged her ankle. Advised that we would contact HMCG. RNLI lifeguard with casualty and arranging for her to attend minor injuries. CG advised.

4 August NCI contacted by vessel on landline to advise engine failure and adrift. Details taken and relayed to HMCG. HMCG requesting any boat in vicinity to render assistance. Speed boat in tow from dinghy later passed NCI lookout heading west. NCI informed HMCG of return. Incident closed by CG.

30 July Call on Ch65 from ILB. Man on Pole Sands opposite marina. ILB investigating, person walked to safety. No further action.

25 July Distorted call to NCI and HMCG from paddle boarder injured on beach. NCI advised CG of visual on CCTV, casualty in no apparent danger. Further call to NCI from paddle boarder confirming he had a phone to call ambulance. Paddle boarder calling ambulance service.

21 July HMCG contact NCI Exmouth, possible yacht grounded on Bull Bank. Visual search by NCI, nothing obvious seen. Exmouth lifeboat returning to mooring asked to investigate. Yacht identified as beginning to keel over on falling tide. Casualty recovered and landed on Exmouth marina.

20 July Solent CG launch AWLB to Orcombe Point, possible jumper. CCTV from NCI Exmouth trained on Orcombe Point. Solent CG contacted and told. Solent CG requests Exmouth CRT attend. NCI Exmouth keep visual via CCTV. Police attend and HMCG stood down. Solent thank NCI Exmouth for CCTV visual.

16 July Phone call from HMCG. 999 call to them, reporting large number of persons in water attempting to recover dog. NCI confirmed no persons remain in water and dog appeared to have been recovered.

12 July Call from MoP reporting jet ski capsized in water off Mamhead slipway. NCI had visual. Tangled tow line around shallow water marker. One person in the water. Speedboat attempting to assist. ILB launched. Jet ski freed with ILB assistance and recovered with one person to safety at Mamhead slipway.

11 July MoP called NCI to report a girl fallen off paddle board in difficulty 200 yards off Exmouth Drive. NCI informed HMCG and Lifeguards. Yacht radioed on Ch 65 to inform that water taxi was giving assistance. Lifeguard jet ski deployed. Further report on Ch 65 by yacht that water taxi had casualty and paddle board onboard. Lifeguard jet ski confirmed that casualty was in water taxi and uninjured. NCI contacted HMCG to report outcome. Casualty reported to be safe and uninjured.

6 July Ch 65 IFV reported distress call heard. Nil on NCI radio. ILB launched. Search produced nothing. HMCG requested visual on potential incident on Straight Point. Advised CG, coordinates given, suggested inland, DSC. AWLB launched. AWLB located boat with faulty DSC.

15 June Yacht in position 50 37’0803N 003 26’4731W phoned NCI to report a car 100m W of yacht being submerged by tide. NCI informed HMCG and Harbour Master. Harbour Master will contact Cockwood Harbour Master.

13 June Lifeguard informed NCI of missing swimmer, clothes, phone left on beach. Entered water before 1000 hrs. Archive footage showed single male near Maer rocks at 0803. ILB contacted NCI on VHF for assistance. Informed ILB that looking at archive, but no present sighting. Lifeguard informed NCI that missing man identified as visiting RNLI shop after not locating clothes. HMCG agreeable that casualty is ashore and teams stood down.

8 June Call received from HMCG indicating MoP had reported kite surfer in difficulty off Maer Rocks. Edge safety RIB picked up casualty.

29 May Exmouth Dive RIB reported large log in water at position 170 degrees from NCI lookout. HMCG informed who requested update if seen. No log hazard observed from lookout.

22 May MoP called NCI reporting jet ski in difficulty, tangled in rope on River Exe. NCI unsuccessfully tried to contact Harbour Master. Then reported incident to HMCG. Harbour Master later called NCI to say he would send someone out to help jet ski. NCI informed HMCG of update. Exmouth RNLI called NCI for an update. ILB launched and in contact with HMCG. Harbour Master attended incident, able to take casualties to shore. ILB attended.

15 May HMCG contacted NCI Exmouth to check on progress of yacht being escorted by Life Guards to Exmouth marina. Yacht entered marina. Life Guards returned to station.

2 May NCI observed RIB drifting with tide bearing 180 degrees. Engine fault. Informed HMCG, reporting assistance from yacht. Shortly after RIB beached near Sideshore. Informed HMCG to update and close incident.

15 April NCI observed RIB and one person drifting south of Pole Sands, bearing 245 degrees from lookout. Possible engine failure. Female began wading towards Dawlish Warren. Ebbing tide. NCI informed HMCG. Assisted by another RIB and engine restarted. First RIB returned to Exmouth Marina. Male in second RIB began to wade across submerged Pole Sands. NCI informed HMCG. Speed boat went to assist and escorted second RIB back to Exmouth Marina. HMCG informed

4 April Harbour Master asked if NCI had a visual on drifting RIB in the river Exe. HMCG informed. RIB on bearing 175 degrees, drifting out to sea, no personnel, Mercury outboard engine, grey tubes. RNLI called out, retrieved RIB and secured to RNLI mooring – then on to pontoon in Exmouth marina.

1 April NCI observed yacht aground in position 143 degrees from lookout. Informed HMCG. Solent CG put out call to stranded vessel – no reply. NCI later observed vessel moving towards Exe buoy. Informed CG. Exmouth RNLI station also confirmed vessel moving on VHF radio.

22 March NCI observed yacht aground at No 3 Buoy and advised HMCG accordingly. Maintained observation whilst contact made by Range Safety Boat. Confirmed to CG that yacht later refloated on rising tide. Yacht noted heading towards Teignmouth.

7 March HMCG informed NCI that MoP called 999 to state that an unattended tender was seen at Groyne 10, Dawlish Warren. Requested NCI locate and monitor. Tender located, position 239 degrees from lookout. Reported to HMCG. CRT deployed to locate. CRT located and beached casualty.

2 March Kite surfer with lost board observed on Pole Sands. Attempted to swim back to beach with kite, but drifting west. NCI informed HMCG. Requested that NCI continue to monitor. Kite surfer later returned to beach safely. CG informed.

5 February Call from Solent CG. MoP reported a kite surfer in difficulty in area off Maer Rocks. Area scanned for 30 minutes. No sightings. HMCG later reported that MoP advised that kite surfer was safely back on beach.

3 February Local IFV appeared to be aground by 4 Buoy. NCI called HMCG to report  and advised of visual on Sideshore CCTV. CG advised NCI to observe. NCI later advised HMCG that IFV now free from sandbank and progressing towards Exmouth marina.