How the National Coastwatch can help you & your students...

Regardless of what type of boating you teach, its worth us letting our students know about VHF channel 65. 

The NCI has been allocated a licence by OFCOM for the use of channel 65. This will allow communication between NCI lookouts and seafarers on a variety of matters. The facility was launched on 1/10/14 when NCI stations were to go live for the first time.  Stations will beable to respond to requests from passing as well as local, sailing craft and fishing vessels for radio checks, weather and sea-state conditions. NCI stations will also be able to provide on request, information on a range of local facilities including for example, local morroings, charted anchorages, water taxi details and local hazards. 

The NCI is an entirely voluntary organisation that keeps a visual watch at 50 lookout stations along UK shores. 

To find out where the nearest watch station is to your boating area go to http://www.nci.org.uk/content/stations