National Coastwatch Institution

The objective of the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) is to assist in the protection and preservation of life at sea and along the United Kingdom coastline. Currently 56 NCI stations are operational and manned by over 2500 volunteers keeping watch around the British Isles from Rossall Point in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire. NCI watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies offering a variety of skills and experience, and full training by the NCI ensures that high standards are met.Established in 1994, we help create and maintain lookouts wherever possible around the UK Coastline and train volunteer Watchkeepers from all backgrounds to assist the users of leisure craft, fishermen, walkers and others as necessary, and help ensure their safety.Our patron Sir Christopher Coville recently praised the actions of the volunteers of the NCI; “When people ask me what the NCI does, I tell them that they do three things. They save lives, they enrich lives and they add resilience to their communities as part of the search and rescue community."The NCI has support from our Royal Patron, HRH Princess Royal.