Please help keep our coastal community safe with NCI Mablethorpe. Your donation really does make a difference.

National Coastwatch Institution Mablethorpe

EYES ALONG THE COAST

Our 2027 Coastwatch Calendar is out now

Bring a little of the Mablethorpe coast into your home all year round. Our 2027 calendar has a different photo for every month, from golden sunrises over the sea to summer days on the beach and the lookout itself standing proud above the dunes. All the photos are by local photographer Jane Dale.

NCI Mablethorpe is run entirely by volunteers, who keep watch over our stretch of coast and help keep beach users, walkers and people out on the water safe. We get no government funding, so every calendar sold goes straight towards keeping our lookout open and our watchkeepers trained and equipped.

It makes a lovely Christmas present for anyone who loves Mablethorpe, whether they live here, visit every summer or moved away and miss the sea.

Buy yours online in our shop

Thank you for supporting your local Coastwatch.

Welcome

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. 61 NCI stations are manned by over 2500 volunteers keeping watch around the British Isles from Lancashire, through Wales, to Hornsea in Yorkshire.

NCI watchkeepers provide eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility; they are trained to deal with emergencies and offer a range of skills and experience. Full training by the NCI ensures that high standards are met.

In emergencies, precise location information is crucial for a swift response. The free what3words app has divided the world into 3-metre squares, assigning each a unique three-word address. This system enables users to communicate their exact location to emergency services, facilitating prompt assistance. Over 85% of UK emergency services, including police, ambulance, and fire services, utilise what3words to enhance their response capabilities.

To use what3words in an emergency, open the app to find your current three-word address and share it with the emergency operator. This simple step can be life-saving, especially in areas where traditional addresses are inadequate.

ABOUT US

NCI Mablethorpe - QAVS

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of The Queen's coronation. It is the MBE for volunteer groups and was awarded to Mablethorpe NCI in 2013.

Mablethorpe Station

The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) at Mablethorpe was established in 2009 as part of a broader initiative to enhance coastal surveillance following the closure of several coastguard stations. Manned by dedicated volunteers, the station employs advanced technology such as radar, AIS, and VHF radio to monitor sea and coastal conditions effectively. Over the years, it has built strong ties with the local community and collaborates closely with emergency services like the Police, RNLI and local coastguard units. The Mablethorpe NCI station remains a vital component of the UK's maritime safety network, ensuring the safety and well-being of both locals and visitors through vigilant coastal watch and community engagement.

Incidents Summary

View all the incidents recorded by NCI, by accessing the national website. Click the image above.

The History of the NCI

In 1994 when two fishermen lost their lives off the Cornish coast near 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 61 stations keep a visual watch around the coastline of England and Wales, with more in the pipeline.
Click the logo above for more.