NCI Southend
National Coastwatch (NCI) watchkeepers provide eyes and ears along the coast, keeping watch and monitoring radio channels to provide a listening watch in poor visibility. When people find themselves in trouble, we are there to alert HM Coastguard and direct the appropriate emergency and rescue services to the casualty.
In 1994 when two fishermen lost their lives off the Cornish coast near a recently closed Coastguard lookout, local people decided to open and restore the visual watch. When the first station was opened at Bass Point on the Lizard, NCI was born. Today, more than 60 stations staffed by over 2700 highly-trained volunteers keep a visual watch around the coastline of England and Wales, with more in the pipeline.
High technology and sophisticated systems such as radar and telecommunications have vastly improved safety at sea, but there is no substitute for a watchful pair of eyes.
Accidents do happen, and a computer or technology cannot spot a distress flare, an overturned boat, a yacht with problems, a water sports enthusiast in difficulty, children or adults in trouble, or possible pollution incidents.
That is why our lookouts and watchkeepers are so important to all those who use our coastal waters, footpaths and coastline.
A log of activities is kept during each watch and, when requested, weather conditions can be passed to yachtsmen and fishermen before they put to sea. Also with the new generation of web cams we can identify sea conditions for those who wish to check on the weather or sea state prior to doing any watersport activity, hopefully reducing the need for HM Coastguard response and RNLI callouts.
During each watch other activities such as canoeing and diving etc are closely observed, as are bathers, walkers and climbers who use our shoreline.
Each station is manned by a team of fully trained and dedicated volunteers who keep a daylight watch up to 365 days a year.
Watchkeepers come from all walks of life and offer a wide range of skills and experience.
Full training ensures that volunteers reach the high standard expected by the NCI and HM Coastguard. Regular assessments take place at all stations and refreasher programmes are held to maintain standards and keep watchkeepers up to date with the latest legislation or improved operational procedures.
Watchkeepers provide a vital link with all the emergency services and can provide an emergency contact point on land for both sea and shore users.
Potential and actual incidents are reported immediately to HM Coastguard, and monitored until the casualty is safe and the SAR services are stood down.
A record of all incidents is held securely on our database, providing important statistical and other information to enable us to target our resources effectively.
In 1994, in Cadgwith Bay off the Lizard in Cornwall, a fishing boat unfortunately sank, and its two crew unfortunately perished.
This happened soon after many Coastguard lookouts had been closed down, and such was the depth of local feeling following the tragedy, the local community decided to establish a volunteer watch over that section of the coastline, and the National Coastwatch Institution was established.
National Coastwatch has gone on to establish 60 lookout stations around England and Wales, from Fleetwood in the North West, through Wales, and around the English coastline to Filey, in the North East.
More are planned, based on information supplied by our colleagues at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the RNLI, and will be established as quickly as funding permits and staff can be recruited.