National Coastwatch Institution

NCI is a national charity operating 56 lookout stations around the coast of England and Wales in support of HM Coastguard.

It is part of the SAR (Search and Rescue) organization. It is manned by approximately 2700 fully trained volunteers keeping a daylight watch up to 365 days of the year. Stations are equipped with binoculars, telescopes, weather stations, AIS, multi-channel VHF radio for monitoring emergency and working channels, and the NCI’s own dedicated VHF Channel 65. Some stations are also equipped with radar.