The St Ives Station was opened in 1999 and after just two years in operation it was awarded Declared Facility Status. St. Ives NCI is now part of the wonderful and highly dedicated UK search and rescue service, something we can all be grateful for.
In 1994 when two fishermen lost their lives off the Cornish coast below a recently closed Coastguard lookout, local people decided to open and restore the visual watch.
When the first station was opened at Bass Point on the Lizard, NCI was born.
Today 49 stations keep a visual watch around the coastline of England and Wales, with more in the pipeline subject to available funding.
Each Station is manned by a team of fully trained and dedicated volunteers who keep a daylight watch up to 365 days a year.
Stations are equipped with telescopes, radar, telephone and weather instrumentation as well as up to date charts.
Watchkeepers are the eyes and ears along the coast, keeping a visual watch, monitoring radio channels, using radar and providing a listening watch in poorRadar visibility.
If you woud like to make a contribution towards the NCI then please contact them - it could be you who needs them one day.
