National Coastwatch reopens lookout stations

The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has announced that it’s gradually re-opening its lookout stations in England. Although it will take a few days for some stations to get back online, it is hoped that all stations in England will be operational again by the end of the month.

For the time being, watches will be on a single manned basis maintaining social distancing and hygiene measures, using only watch-keepers who are keen and willing, and of course not in the extremely vulnerable group.

One of the first stations to open was Lee-on-the-Solent which had only been open a few hours when a small, capsized dinghy was spotted about 300 yards in front of the station. The two crew were unable to recover the vessel and were becoming visibly fatigued. The volunteer watchkeeper at Lee-on-the-Solent contacted HM Coastguard and requested the assistance of the lifeboat. After being guided to the casualties, the lifeboat was able to recover the two exhausted crew to safety.

Currently the reopening does not include Wales, but it is intended that the Welsh stations will follow suit when the Welsh Assembly restrictions are eased sufficiently.

The charity runs 56 lookout stations around England and Wales and is staffed by over 2,700 volunteers. Its work is in support of HM Coastguard, and it describes itself as ‘eyes along the coast’, helping people working or at leisure around the coastline to stay safe.