Who we are

In 2018 The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) re-established the building at the top of Hengistbury Head as a manned lookout.

This bridged a crucial gap between the existing NCI Stations at The Needles on the western tip of the Isle of Wight and Swanage to the west.

Hengistbury Head NCI is one of 60+ stations manned by 2800 trained volunteers.

Each NCI Station is expected to fund the provision and maintenance of its lookout, equipment and building, and also recruit and train Watchkeepers to a national standard.

NCI Watchkeepers are volunteers who come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of skills and experience. They share a strong desire to help improve the safety of seafarers and walkers in our area.

In the immediate area of Hengistbury Head we have numerous navigational dangers, including Beerpan Rocks off the end of the Long Groyne and Clarendon Rocks off the Mudeford sandspit beach. In addition, there is the treacherous entrance to Christchurch Harbour with its shallow shifting channel and fast flowing tides. All these dangers create incidents every year that will keep Watchkeepers busy.

BCP Council has a very useful website page dedicated to Christchurch Harbour. Mariners should find the sections relating to Approach, Entrance and Speed limits valuable.

Watchkeeper’s duties include:

Maintaining a visual and radio watch and, when identified, record and report emergencies to the Coastguard;
Assisting with search & rescue by advising rescue authorities of a casualty’s exact position and the conditions on the scene;
Informing mariners of the current local weather and sea conditions;
Acting as an emergency contact point for walkers on the Head;
Co-operating with agencies involved in the protection of fisheries, wildlife and historic wrecks.

Each NCI Station forms part of the national Search and Rescue (SAR) organisation, working closely with HM Coastguard. Hengistbury Head NCI works with local SAR partners including:

NCI Staions are seen as a valuable addition to the local SAR community.
Prior to our becoming operational the Mudeford RNLI Station manager said “There is no doubt that having NCI observers there will reduce the response times and lead to faster location of casualties”.

Below are just a few examples of interviews NCI Hengistbury Head has given to the media

Radio items featuring NCI Hengistbury Head – 2021

Our Station Manager Interviewed on Radio Solent

On the 07 December, as storm Barra was moving in, Steve Harris, during his Breakfast show on Radio Solent, interviewed our Station Manager Peter Holway. Peter was on duty in the Lookout and Steve asked how things were looking from the top of Hengistbury Head.

If you would like to hear the interview, you can listen by pressing play.

Scala Radio Listeners Hear Brief History of NCI

On the 14th December Mark Forrest, during his Scala Radio programme, interviewed Sue, one of our watchkeepers. Mark was interested to learn about the NCI so Sue, in the time available, gave his listeners a concise history of the charity. She spoke of the tragedy in Cornwall which led to the creation of the NCI in 1994, our role today, and the fact that the 57 stations are manned entirely by our 2600 volunteers.

If you would like to hear the interview, you can listen by pressing play.

Television News items featuring NCI Hengistbury Head 2019

This item by Meridian News was aired on 15th August 2019.

This excerpt from the piece relates to HHNCI Lookout.

This report was Broadcast on BBC South Today, on 4th December 2019

A full version of the broadcast can be seen on our Facebook page.