Presentation – British Red Cross

NCI Exmouth Presentation Team were invited to give a talk on the work of our watchkeepers to The British Red Cross at their offices in Exeter.

We discussed the challenges of the River Exe, a brief history of the NCI and the training our volunteers have to undertake.

The offices were of the South West Emergency Response Team and the group were particularly interested in how we fit into the Search and Rescue family as an asset of His Majesty’s Coastguard.

Thank you for your interest and the interesting questions concerning our training.

24 Oct 2024

Declared Facility Status (DFS)

This week NCI Exmouth received our regular yearly DFS assessment.

DFS stands for Declared Facility Status and is an accreditation issued by His Majesty’s Coastguard confirming our status in the Search and Rescue family. All NCI watchkeepers undergo regular training to make sure we maintain the standards expected of us by the Coastguard. The DFS assessment looks at the organisation and management of the station as well as the knowledge, confidence and competence of our watchkeepers.

Being designated as having DFS means an NCI Station may be called upon to make its watchkeepers and equipment available in any Search and Rescue situation.

We passed with flying colours, so many thanks to all those involved. We also thank all our watchkeepers for continuing to operate to the highest standards; proudly flying the NCI flag:

Eyes Along the Coast.

24 Oct 2024

Opening Times

The NCI Exmouth lookout will be open from 0900 until 1630 from Sunday 27 October until Saturday 29 March

23 Oct 2024

RNLI/RN Training

Yesterday our NCI Exmouth watchkeepers observed from the lookout the RNLI Exmouth All Weather Lifeboat (AWLB), R & J Welburn, exercising with a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter off the seafront.

20 Oct 2024

Incident – Paddleboarders in Difficulty

Following call from RNLI, NCI confirmed sighting of one paddleboarder in Estuary, although four seen earlier. ILB launched with request that NCI contact them on Ch.32 with further updates. Three further paddleboarders located but unable to contact RNLI on Ch.32 or Ch.00. Advised HMCG accordingly. Paddleboarders later safely ashore. NCI Lookout Tower visited by RNLI to confirm use of Ch.00 in future.

15 Oct 2024

Local Notice to Mariners 26/24

No: 25 Starboard Lateral Mark Repositioned

Notice is hereby given that No: 25 Starboard Lateral Mark (Light sequence Q.F.G) has been repositioned to the following:

• N50° 38.477
• W003° 26.940

14 Oct 2024

New Watchkeeper

Congratulations to Olga who has now qualified as a watchkeeper with Exmouth NCI following her training sessions and assessment. We are delighted to welcome Olga on board joining the team of volunteer watchkeepers here in Exmouth who are on duty 365 days a year.

11 Oct 2024

Local Notice to Mariners 25/24

No: 39 Starboard Lateral

Notice is hereby given that the consent of the Corporation of Trinity House under 199(2) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1995, is hereby conveyed to Exeter City Council for the following changes to aids to navigation:

• Light installed on No:39 – Starboard Lateral. Sequence – LFLG5s.

11 Oct 2024

High Sheriff Visits

This morning we hosted a visit from the Lord High Sheriff of Devon, Commodore Jake Moores OBE DL RN. He was welcomed by Station Manager Peter Oliver, and the two morning duty watchkeepers.

A High Sheriff is a ceremonial officer who is theoretically the sovereign’s judicial representative in the county. They are unpaid, and appointed annually by the Crown, via the Privy Council.

The office of Sheriff is the oldest under the Crown. It is over 1000 years old; it was established before the Norman Conquest.

The High Sheriff remains the Sovereign’s representative in the county for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.

The key objectives of his role are:

To lend active support to the principal organs of the Constitution within the county of Devon – the Royal Family, the Judiciary, the Police and other law enforcement agencies, the emergency services, local authorities, and church and faith groups.

To take an active part in supporting and promoting the voluntary sector and giving all possible encouragement to the voluntary organisations within Devon, particularly those involved with crime reduction and social cohesion.

He was interested in our work, the challenges of our Estuary and thanked our watchkeepers for what we do, as he is a keen yachtsman himself.