National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) was awarded £143,868.80 to provide a replacement Station for the Mablethorpe National Coastwatch Institution.
The Mablethorpe Station is staffed by over fifty volunteers from all levels of society and brings a myriad of differing skills. We work from a station based on the Seaview Carpark and have been sited there for over 12 years in a previously used facility.
This requirement is due to the existing premises being well passed its operational lifespan and despite expensive ongoing and continuous maintenance it is now at a critical condition and will very shortly be unsafe and inoperable.
The station is crewed and in use 365 days a year. The station has a variety of essential and expensive equipment which includes CCTV, RADAR, Optics, Vessel Automatic Identification System (AIS) several high specification Marine Radios required to carry out the essential duties of providing safety along the local coastline. Effectively we are there to help anyone in difficulties within sight or sound of the station.
The station is an integral part of the search and rescue community (SAR) as per its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Coastguard (see link below). The replacement of the current NCI station gives us the opportunity to maintain and continue the development of the work of safety along our coast and local beaches and sea, enhancing the reputation of Mablethorpe to Sutton on Sea Theddlethorpe, Saltfleet and North Summercoats as one of the safest and managed areas along the East coast.
The new station will have a second floor which will enable the watchkeepers a view of the beach that is currently below eye line. This will enhance our abilities to monitor the safety of the public. It also gives us the opportunity to develop the Water Safety Campaign which the NCI has been tasked to develop and promote for and on behalf of the Coastguard and the RNLI to ensure the public both and local and visitors can be educated on how to best enjoy safely the beach and sea around our coast thus relieving the strain on the emergency services.
The project also gives our local population the opportunity to volunteer for the service, learning new skills and meeting and making new friends and colleagues. With an aging population volunteering for the service gives folks especially those on their own the opportunity to minimize loneliness, make new friends, and learn new meaningful skills whilst playing a significant role in our local community.