NCI St Donat’s Bay was launched on the 7th May 2021 based in in the grounds of the UWC Atlantic College at St Donats in the Vale of Glamorgan. The station is manned by volunteers from the local community, College staff and students making it unique within the N\tional Coastwatch.
UWC Atlantic College, is no stranger to the world of search and rescue. In the 1960s the College was responsible for the design and development of the Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). The descendants of these prototype boats developed by the College are used to this day by the RNLI, who also named them Atlantic Class in recognition of the work done by staff and students.Up until 2013 the College was also the base for an RNLI Lifeboat and station again crewed by volunteers from the College and local community. The opening of the National Coastwatch station is just the latest chapter in the College’s history of life-saving related activities and fits nicely with its current plans to expand and develop its sea front area.
The station’s views take in the Wales Coast Path stretching across the cliffs to Llantwit Major and beyond, whilst to the south they can see the busy shipping lanes all framed by the North Somerset Coast some 10 miles across the water. Watchkeepers at the station will be monitoring all water-based and shoreline activities, reporting to HM Coastguard any potential concerns they see that could put people’s lives in danger, be it a vessel sinking or a faller along the rocky shoreline.
The station achieved Declared Facility status in June 2023 and is currently operational Thursday to Monday between 1000 and 1800 (winter hours 0900-1600) and Bank Holidays.
The partnership with UWC Atlantic College sees students undertake training to be NCI cadets which forms part of their CAS service commitment, an important part of the International Baccalaureate. The cadet undertake watches at the station alongside the NCI watch-keepers,
The cadet capability and training can involve recruits from the local community e.g. those who are working towards The Duke of Edinburgh’s, Queen’s Guide or Queen’s Scout Awards.
No previous experiance is required as training will be provided, to email for more information Click_here
All visits to the station should be pre-booked with the station manager and on arrival at the college visitors must register with UWC Atlantic College Main Reception.
Car parking is available on the college campus and there is wheelchair access to the station, but not currently up to the watch lookout area.