National Coastwatch to get CH65

ShinyShoe · 14 August 2014, 20:41

So NCI have been allocated VHF CH65... from 1st October
NCI GRANTED DEDICATED VHF CHANNEL | National Coastwatch Institution

Any of you guys think you'd ever contact them? Are they the coastguard equivalent of ambulance chasers or do they actually serve a useful function...

Not quite sure what the calling procedure will be... CH16 or direct or either.

Appologies to the Scottish Rib.netters (and Irish?) who are deprived of such a valuable uniformed service ...

willk · 14 August 2014, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

So NCI have been allocated VHF CH65... from 1st October......Appologies to the Scottish Rib.netters (and Irish?) who are deprived of such a valuable uniformed service ...

No, but I think that it's a good thing. Having their own channel will spare them the indignity of having to hoof it down to the nearest Lifeboat Station to request a callout to boats stuck on sandbars...

Ribochet · 14 August 2014, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

No, but I think that it's a good thing. Having their own channel will spare them the indignity of having to hoof it down to the nearest Lifeboat Station to request a callout to boats stuck on sandbars...

Ouch

ShinyShoe · 14 August 2014, 22:27

Ah but their declared facilities have always had the ability to use CH 0 with permission of the CG (not sure how they got that permission a it sounds like its call specific!!)

And any numnut with half a brain knows that to call a lifeboat you'd be better contacting the RNLI launch authority.

Ribochet · 14 August 2014, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

And any numnut with half a brain knows that to call a lifeboat you'd be better contacting the RNLI launch authority.

Hi I am a numnut with half a brain

Could you tell me how exactly how I am to contact my local RNLI Launch authority to "call a lifeboat" - is that the same as calling a taxi

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

If only there was some modern alternative... either that could bounce a message off a satelite to a base station rather than relying on someone watching out for a flare...anyone?

Is that question for real

ShinyShoe · 14 August 2014, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribochet

Hi I am a numnut with half a brain

Could you tell me how exactly how I am to contact my local RNLI Launch authority to "call a lifeboat" - is that the same as calling a taxi

.

No. To get a free lift home from the pub you dial 101 round here. It doubles up as the Police Non-Emergency Number...

To get a lifeboat you dial 9-9-9 and ask for the Coastguard... and they do all the other bits for you - contacting the Launch Authority. Its a really good service, and it seems they are quite good at it (they even sometimes do it when there are some sailing dinghies capsized with a club safety boat alongside)...

But you don't need to turn up at the lifeboat station in person or anything... customer service at its best.

"Dial 999 and ask for the coastguard" got a bit of a ring to it hasn't it.. ..I should suggest that to them for their next advertising campaign.

But dont dial 999 for a taxi - you just start the whole 999, 112 debate (

) about which number is better to call and then you get one of those taxis thats like a van with a dog cage in the back and they take you to a pretty poor quality hotel for the night with a bucket in the room instead of a toilet and no satellite TV.

Quote:

Is that question for real

Pikey Dave · 15 August 2014, 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

So NCI........

Who? sincerely, never heard of 'em

Barrowboy · 15 August 2014, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Who? sincerely, never heard of 'em

If you forgive the pun, I'm in the same boat as you Dave.

I'm now fighting the old cynic inside that's telling me the rise of the voluntary NCI organisation (staffed by volunteers and funded by donations as I understand it?) uneeringly coincides with the closure of the Coastguard stations that were staffed by professionals and funded by the taxpayer until just recently.

I'll shut up now before it gets political.

Big Society

Call me 'Dave'

Poly · 15 August 2014, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrowboy

If you forgive the pun, I'm in the same boat as you Dave.

I'm now fighting the old cynic inside that's telling me the rise of the voluntary NCI organisation (staffed by volunteers and funded by donations as I understand it?) uneeringly coincides with the closure of the Coastguard stations that were staffed by professionals and funded by the taxpayer until just recently.

I'll shut up now before it gets political.

Big Society

Call me 'Dave'

Actually they've been going for 20yrs since the first closures of cg lookouts.

I may be being unfair to them but it all comes across a bit dad's army meets neighbourhood watch!

That said if they had wider coverage they might? Be a better bet to lodge your passage plan with than cg as I suspect if you don't call in then they might actually do something.

The Black Pig · 15 August 2014, 08:42

No expense to the tax payer
A pair of eyes on constant watch with valuable contacts
Voluntarily maned & funded

It's reassuring to me

What's not to like

Pikey Dave · 15 August 2014, 08:53

Just had a quick head count, around 50 stations south of The Wash, 5 north. 1 station in the 250mile stretch of the East coast from the Humber to Berwick. Probably why I've never heard of them. Maybe they should change their name from NATIONAL to SOUTHERN coast watch

MustRib · 15 August 2014, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Just had a quick head count, around 50 stations south of The Wash, 5 north. 1 station in the 250mile stretch of the East coast from the Humber to Berwick. Probably why I've never heard of them. Maybe they should change their name from NATIONAL to SOUTHERN coast watch

now now PD, you know we only just got electricty for the first time last week....
we can't get our coracles far enough out to sea for them to watch

Wightdiver · 15 August 2014, 09:50

They have a station located in a car park at Lee on the Solent. Always looks to be manned with guys looking through tripod mounted binos and telescopes. Never had cause to contact them but it’s kind of comforting to think that if I did have a problem they might spot me and raise the alarm.

paulbrown22 · 15 August 2014, 10:00

Likewise, there's several our way by Swanage (Durlston Head), St Alban's Head and the other side of Lyme Bay. I've certainly notice them being far more active on the radio this year than before. Often around here they are logging the dive boats in/out, taking routine traffic from sailing yachts, etc.. Most of the lookout stations have live weather equipment on them as well, so I have called them a couple of times this year to get an idea of conditions when we are tucked right in a harbour (e.g. Salcombe) and want to know what it's really like outside before we decide to set off on a long passage.

Barrowboy · 15 August 2014, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

Likewise, there's several our way by Swanage (Durlston Head), St Alban's Head and the other side of Lyme Bay. I've certainly notice them being far more active on the radio this year than before. Often around here they are logging the dive boats in/out, taking routine traffic from sailing yachts, etc.. Most of the lookout stations have live weather equipment on them as well, so I have called them a couple of times this year to get an idea of conditions when we are tucked right in a harbour (e.g. Salcombe) and want to know what it's really like outside before we decide to set off on a long passage.

Interesting. Will we be expected to keep a listening watch on both CH16 and CH65 when we're out on the water?

Will we be advised to radio check and lodge passage plans with both, remembering to advise both of safe arrival?

I'll need to plumb in another fixed VHF soon!

Dual watch on CH16 + CH65 plus monitoring port traffic on CH12 and one for communicating with the RIBnet posse on a cruise in company...

Pikey Dave · 15 August 2014, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrowboy

Interesting. Will we be expected to keep a listening watch on both CH16 and CH65 when we're out on the water?

Will we be advised to radio check and lodge passage plans with both, remembering to advise both of safe arrival?

I'll need to plumb in another fixed VHF soon!

Dual watch on CH16 + CH65 plus monitoring port traffic on CH12 and one for communicating with the RIBnet posse on a cruise in company...

IMVHO, when you start duplication of agencies & overlap of responsibilities the only result is confusion, tragedy & court cases. There's a lot to be said for a single point of contact. Unfortunately the (proper)CG has been cut back to a point where they are now an emergency service & only to be contacted as such. Personally I feel that the CG is not as approachable as it used to be, for routine traffic, radio checks etc. So now we have retired traffic wardens & council jobsworths playing lookout.
Purely my jaded cynical view, but hey!

Maximus · 15 August 2014, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

IMVHO, when you start duplication of agencies & overlap of responsibilities the only result is confusion, tragedy & court cases. There's a lot to be said for a single point of contact. Unfortunately the (proper)CG has been cut back to a point where they are now an emergency service & only to be contacted as such. Personally I feel that the CG is not as approachable as it used to be, for routine traffic, radio checks etc. So now we have retired traffic wardens & council jobsworths playing lookout.
Purely my jaded cynical view, but hey!

Got that Spot on Fella!

Copinsay · 15 August 2014, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Personally I feel that the CG is not as approachable as it used to be, for routine traffic, radio checks etc.

While sympathising with the thrust of the comments re the government cuts for the CG, I have to say that the local staff at Shetland Coastguard are still very approachable, diligent and friendly... And I'm sure they too share the same concerns re cutbacks that have already been stated.

Copinsay · 15 August 2014, 13:50

FYI some pics from the Stepper Point NCI lookout near Padstow. Seemed very friendly chap when I was having a look around... And 10/10 for putting a dog bowl out of fresh water each day

PeterM · 15 August 2014, 14:23

Bitchy comments about Boris aside - So why do some think that a voluntary organsiation funded by dontations cant do good job and add value ?

Coastguard cliff rescue are I believe volunteers of and unless you happen to be very close to one RNLI station those big orange and blue floatythings are all volunteers ....................as are the independant lifeboats........

Just because people don't get paid doesn't mean they cant add value or provide a service.