The National Coastwatch Institution’s station at Froward Point is clear to operate for another year after a successful reassessment.

The reassessment, of their Declared Facility Status (DFS), involved both morning and afternoon watches on Sunday, April 9. Retaining their DFS ensures that Froward Point NCI remains an integral part of the UK Search and Rescue Service which includes HM Coastguard and the RNLI.

The reassessment was carried out by Rod Skinner, an experienced watchkeeper from Padstow’s Stepper Point NCI.

Malcolm Dando, NCI Froward Point, said: “Thanks to the ready cooperation of Dart RNLI and Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority, part of the assessment of the morning watch included a rescue of a simulated ‘man overboard’ casualty dropped by DHNA beyond the Homestone Buoy with the watchkeepers using the dedicated NCI VHF Channel 65 to guide the lifeboat to the casualty’s position.

“Exercises such as this foster good relations between Froward Point NCI, Dart RNLI, DHNA and HM Coastguard Solent and provides the NCI Watchkeepers with useful experience of incidents.”

Located in the former Second World War gun battery lookout, 200 feet above the entrance to the Dart, watchkeepers scan the waters of Start Bay during daylight hours paying particular attention to vulnerable people and craft such as kayaks, jet skis, leisure or commercial fishing boats and all sizes of sail and motor vessels.

Mariners in the vicinity of Start Bay and the Dart are encouraged to free up the emergency radio channels and to contact call sign “Froward Point NCI” using International VHF Channel 65 for radio checks and local weather reports.