21st January 2022. The Yacht Market News has published an interesting article about the NCI.

“High technology and sophisticated systems have improved safety at sea greatly, but there is no substitute for a watchful pair of eyes. NCI Watchkeepers are on duty 365 days a year in daylight hours, watching and listening for emergencies, and every other conceivable coastal issue. Last year was the busiest ever for NCI, mainly due to the number of UK staycations - accidents happen. A computer cannot spot a distress flare, an overturned boat, a yacht with engine failure, swamped kayaks, or a swimmer in distress, but a trained Watchkeeper can. 

Every NCI station is manned by a team of fully trained and VHF licensed volunteer Watchkeepers and recruiting and training have continued throughout the pandemic. RYA licenses are issued after rigorous training by RYA qualified trainers, RYA schools and RYA assessors so that any emergency can be dealt with and recorded swiftly and accurately. Meticulous logs are maintained so every detail can be analysed after an incident. NCI stations monitor local working VHF frequencies, Coastguard broadcast frequencies, VHF Channel 16, and Channel 0 and the Coastguard let it be known that the use of Channel 16 for radio checks is no longer welcome. They now make regular broadcasts requesting coastal seafarers to call National Coastwatch’s dedicated Channel 65 for checks, local weather, and marina information.

NCI Watchkeepers are “the eyes and ears along the coast”, using their VHF radios tuned to multi channels, plotting radar for real time monitoring of vessel movements, powerful binoculars and telescopes, remote cameras transmitting to the station, ship recognition systems and weather stations. NCI volunteers are trained to act in an emergency, reporting directly to HM Coastguard and co-ordinating with the Search and Rescue services. Watchkeepers maintaining the station logbook are trained to record everything seen and heard including up to the minute local weather conditions, sea states and vulnerable activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, kite surfing and diving. All are closely observed as are walkers and climbers on shore.  Fishermen and yachtsmen contact stations for local weather conditions before setting out and walkers call in for advice before tackling hazardous coastal paths.

Currently, 57 operational stations are in service along the coast from the northwest to the north east including nine stations in Wales. A programme of new station openings is in operation, with projects at various stages of planning and development. However, opening a new station requires a perfect location, leasing of land and buildings, equipping, recruiting and training volunteer recruits - and of course, funding.

NCI is a national charity [1159975] financed entirely by public donation and commercial sponsorship. There is no government funding. The charity is most fortunate to have Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as the royal patron and she is an enthusiastic and vocal supporter visiting stations and attending events around the coast on a regular basis.