National Coast watch’s Mablethorpe team, who launched their service to the community of Mablethorpe, Easter 2009, are now relocating to a higher vantage point. In a reprise of their launch the Vicar of Mablethorpe, the Reverend Alison Harvey, will bless and dedicate the new Surveillance Unit located in Sea View Car Park, Mablethorpe.

The Chairman of the National Coastwatch Institution, Mr Jon Gifford, will also be on hand to see the station commissioned. He commented that the Mablethorpe team had seen their unit grow from a Beach Chalet on the Promenade to a fully equipped NCI station in less than twelve months and this is all a credit to the dedicated work of the band of volunteers that make up this hard working team.

The team have watched out over the Sea and Beach at Mablethorpe for a total in excess of 3,000 man hours since opening and have assisted in the identifying and saving 4 people. They have also logged both commercial and leisure craft plying the waters locally. They have also endured the coldest of winters in a decade from an open chalet on the Promenade.

Their Station Manager, Tony Mee, said “I was proud of my team, both in the way they have adapted and overcome adversity with the cold weather, and secondly the way they have supported me in all the Fund Raising efforts to acquire this state of the art unit”. Tony also commented that this new Station would not have come to fruition without the support of businesses and local people of Mablethorpe without whose generous donations and Sponsorship the unit would have been a long time coming.

He also said “On behalf of my team I wish to say a big thank you to all; this type of ship (sponsorship) is one we love to see!”

The local HM Coast Guard were heavily involved with the choice of the new location, as it gives a spectacular overview of Mablethorpe North Beach, a location which is very heavily used by Holiday makers and locals alike. They commented that the station will be an asset they will be happy to support over the coming years.

National Coastwatch Institution nationally are ever expanding, this year seeing the planned opening of another four stations around the coast, but Mablethorpe are proud to be the 42nd station on their locale.

Over the last year (2009) nationally, NCI stations have Logged and Identified 180919 Commercial and Military Vessels along with 193416 Pleasure Vessels, a grand total of 374335. The 39 operational stations have spent a total of 174600 man hours on watch (3,000 of those were at Mablethorpe), operated by 1652 Trained and Trainee Watch keepers who were supported by 144 Auxiliaries. During those hours they were involved with: 818 incidents reported to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, 68 reported for Police involvement and a further 323 involved Ambulance, Wildlife and other agencies of these 1209 incidents, 49 required the launching of RNLI assets, and all this was at NO COST to the Nation.

The team are always on the look out (no pun intended) for new members to join their ranks: the main requirement is a pair of “MK 1 eyeballs” this is the main tool the team use, All the other assets that they use, binoculars and the like, are extra and aids to their main remit of Spotting, Reporting and Plotting. Full training is given in-house and at the Volunteers own speed so there is no pressure. A Team Volunteer comes from all walks of life but mainly the recently retired person with a few hours spare in the week or month to help the local Community stay safe.

Prospective Volunteers should contact Ian Hulse, Recruitment Coordinator on 01507 466230.

Our next Sponsored Fund Raising event is at The Tavern, Mablethorpe Chalet Park, Off Quebec Road, with a Race Night put on by the Lions. All are welcome; come along and help the horses by shouting loudly and support NCI Mablethorpe whilst have A Grand Night Out!