Welcome to Calshot NCI
National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
Hello...... It’s great to hear that you will be joining, or thinking of joining one of the most iconic NCI Stations, Calshot Tower. With a ‘crew’ of over 100 watchkeepers, we are also one of the largest and most successful stations in the UK with an average annual involvement in some 70 incidents, liaising with Her Majesty’s Coastguard, the RNLI as well private Lifeboats and the Port Authorities. The ‘crew’ you will be joining come from a variety of backgrounds, some with marine experience, Royal and Merchant Navy as well as sailing and motor boating but most importantly a love of the sea and helping others is what really matters. In this document we have tried to make your introduction into the life of a Watchkeeper as easy and enjoyable as possible...so keep on looking! Best wishes from the Station Manager and the rest of 'The Crew'.
Just some of us.....
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
And there is another way down!
Hampshire Fire & Rescue practice an evacuation from our 'Lookout'.
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
This booklet contains:
1. Health & Safety
2. Uniform
3. Confidentiality
4. Booking a Shift using 'findmyshift'
5. Access to the NCI Website
6. Station Operations
7. Station Housekeeping
8. Watchkeeper Training
9. Courses
10. Cost of Being a Member
11. Station Location Details
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
1. Health & Safety Location Our station is located at the end of Calshot Spit and is geographically isolated. At Calshot Tower, to access our 'Lookout', there are 8 flights of near vertical ladders going up over 100 feet so it is important for you to be comfortable with these on a continuing basis. Attending the Station Put your Parking Pass on your dashboard. Do NOT park in front of the Lifeboat Station or the access door to the Generator Room. Park in the vicinity of the Station and not in the Activity centre car parks. Remember parking is a courtesy from the Activity centre. There are currently Parking Wardens / soon to be cameras but still display your pass. An ANPR camera system will come into operation during 2018 so it is important that you give your car details and registration number to our Administrator. (Max 2 cars) Enter your name on the Fire Board with pen provided (NCI level 3) Normally you will meet your fellow Watchkeepers at the station entrance. If you are on your own and need to ascend solo, you must phone the Lookout using the door entry phone by pressing the NCI button. (You will have to do this for entry to the station until you are qualified, as you will not have a swipe card). Climb the stairs slowly, pause at each 2nd level, read the notices and take a breath. Only one person should be on each ladder at a time. When leaving, preferably, descend the stairs backwards using both hands on the rails. Rub your name off the fireboard. Medical You must inform us at the outset of any medical condition which might affect your safety or your watch keeping ability. The information you give us will be kept confidential. You must also tell us if, and when, any relevant condition arises in future. At the top of the stairs in the Lookout there is a Defibrillator & First Aid Kit The defibrillator is easy to use should it be needed as it is a variety that speaks instructions as soon as you open it. The First Aid Kit has the usual assortment of items should a small accident occur. Due to the height and access to the station lookout the Emergency Services have designated us as an 'Unusual Location' and thus will despatch the H.A.R.T. team to an emergency.
H.A.R.T. = Hazardous Area Response Team
Many of our Watchkeepers are First Aid trained and we do offer this as an optional course.
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
2. Uniform
As a qualified Watchkeeper you will be expected to wear our uniform. The Uniform is:
• Dark blue NATO sweater V Neck with epaulette straps • White pilot shirt or blouse with epaulette straps. (long or short sleeve) • Dark blue or black trousers (Note: skirts are available but not recommended) • Black shoes • Optional black tie or ladies cravat • Optional dark blue NCI Baseball cap or a NCI Breton beret
We do pay for our own uniforms.
Epaulettes are provided free once you qualify.
Motifs, other than an NCI badge or NCI Station Badge should not appear on any clothing.
The Uniform can be viewed at the NCI shop on the website The NCI shop provides shirts, trousers, ties, caps, berets, cravats and sweaters which can all be branded with the NCI Logo. The shop also stocks branded Body Warmers, Fleeces, Sweatshirts, Polo Shirts and Jackets. These can all be ordered through the Station Quartermaster. Miller Rayners in Southampton provides good quality woollen jumpers, shirts and trousers. These are not branded and you will need to visit and purchase yourself. There are also several choices for pilot shirts and NATO jumpers on the internet Note: Epaulettes are only issued by the Station Administrator.
3. Confidentiality What you hear on the radios is often confidential to the SAR community. Channel 0 is HM Coastguards private channel which can only be officially monitored by registered SAR Assets. Anything heard should never be discussed outside the station except with another Watchkeeper or SAR member. As shown below you will be issued with two usernames and passwords: For findmyshift – use your Email and password given by the Rota Officer. For the website the username and password issued to you by NCI Head Office.
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
4. Booking on to a Watch or a Course
1. Log in to www.findmyshift.com using your email address and Rota password. 2. On Facility View, right-click on the background area of your chosen watch/course, go to Request on then to your selected Watch and left click. 3. Your first watch must be with a member of the Training Team or Committee member. 4. All subsequent Watches can be when it suits you best. 5. You may request up to 2 Watches per week during your training. 6. Up to 4 persons (W, Wr or SWr) on a Watch, of which only 1 can be a Trainee (T, Tr). 7. So do not book a Watch where there is already a Trainee (T or Tr) (r = VHF qualified) Note: Give as much notice as possible when requesting a Watch - at least 48 hours notice. Remember: You should arrive at the Tower 20 minutes before the start of the Watch so that you can meet the other Watchkeepers at the bottom of the Tower and ascend together. Need help: Call or Email the Rota Officer. If urgent: No response from the Rota Officer, then call the backup number below.
To Cancel a Watch (Use If you need to cancel a Watch due to an emergency) 9. Use the Cancel option in Facility View this generates an email to the Rota Officer. Use the comments box for your reason. Do Not: Use the Delete option to cancel a watch. 10. If the Watch you are cancelling is within the next two days, contact the Rota Officer by telephone who will arrange a replacement Watchkeeper. Note: If the Rota Officer is going to be away a message will be sent to all Watchkeepers in advance, giving details of who to contact.
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
5. Using the Station Website
The Stations website https://nci.org.uk/calshot has public information pages about Calshot Spit and our local waters, and also private pages for which you have to log in.
Logging in After you have joined NCI Calshot Tower, our NCI Head Office will issue you directly with a user name and password to access the National website. Note: This is a different password to the one on 'findmyshift.'
Go to www.nci.org.uk Go to the 'Login' area (top right hand side in yellow) and click. Using the 'user name' and 'password' sent to you: Fill in the blank areas under the appropriate headings and press enter. A new screen will give you only one choice to complete your log in. Click on Calshot Tower, which will take you to our website. Job done
Scroll down the left hand side to view any information you wish to view. For your training details scroll down to 'Station Training Information' and you can access any training file you require. This site contains: • Training Course Information. • Watchkeeper Exercises. • Training updates and much more.
Other information in the private area of the website is mainly administrative, Committee minutes and the like, mainly for future reference.
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
6. Station Operations
Whilst all this information is in your Watchkeeper Manual it is useful to understand the most relevant points at this stage.
Calshot NCI is part of the Search and Rescue (SAR) organisation and as such we are a fully Operational Station during our declared hours of opening.
Our Opening hours are:
Summer: 08:00 to 20:00 Shifts 08:00 to 12:00, 12:00 to 16:00 and 16:00 to 20:00*
Winter: 08:00 to 17:00 Shifts 08:00 to 11:00, 11:00 to 14:00 and 14:00 to 17:00*
* Last light if earlier or later if requested to do so.
You should turn up for your shift at least 15 minutes before the above times.
Should you be delayed in any way please ring the Lookout. (See 8 below)
When the Station is manned we fly the Union flag and the NCI flag.
We log on and off with the Coastguard at the start and end of our day.
We listen to the radios on different frequencies.
It is very important not to over speak the radios.
We monitor all leisure users on the water and waterfront. We count them every two hours.
We complete a weather report every hour on the hour.
We complete a Station Logbook which is a legal document.
We observe most important principle and that is EYES ALONG THE COAST.
You will start your watches as a Lookout.
You are looking for and monitoring vulnerable water craft, people and animals, in case they might get into trouble.
By familiarising yourself with the list of vulnerable craft, you will become of valuable assistance right from your first watch.
Should an incident occur whilst you are on watch please follow the instructions given by the Watchleader.
You will most likely be told to keep your eyes on the casualty and give a running description of what you can see and what is happening.
Remember you are part of a professional organisation.
Finally we would like you to do at least 3 Watches per month if possible but remember that the
9 NCI minimum is 2 Watches per month on average. Page
Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
7. Station Housekeeping
We are as Watchkeepers responsible for our own welfare.
You will notice that we have a sink, a toilet, a vacuum, dusters, cloths, kettle & cups etc.
Nothing cleans itself so please keep them all clean.
At the beginning of each watch
Check that the windows are clean and if not these can be cleaned with either the Karcher or the scraper.
Note: ensure it is safe to go out onto the walkway ( i.e. the wind is below force 5)
At the end of each watch we must all ensure:
The cups are washed The kettle is full – Important as we sometimes loose water supply The sink is clean The toilet is clean The Lookout is tidy
The last Watch:
Should see if the carpet needs cleaning Should empty the bin and replace the bin bag
Note: Every week or so the towels and tea towels need to be taken home to be washed by someone!
The Station provides towels, cleaning materials and refreshments etc.
We do put spare change; say 50p a week into the jar to provide tea, coffee, milk, sugar and biscuits.
At the end of the day we switch off the radios, computer screen (NOT the PC) the kettle and the microwave plus the hot water heater (neon switch at the left of the sink draining board) and also the Video Camera screen.
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
8. Using your Watchkeeper Training and Assessment Progress Sheet
Your Progress Sheet is to be used in conjunction with your Watchkeeper Manual
Whilst you progress at your own pace your goal is to of become a fully certified Watchkeeper in about 6 months.
You will do training whilst on watch under the guidance of a more senior and experienced NCI member.
There will be three training meetings to attend which will concentrate on the competencies required for becoming a qualified Watchkeeper.
To help you complete the Progress Sheet, your Watchkeeper Manual contains all the technical information.
To progress you should take your Progress Sheet to each watch.
You will see that some of the questions are very basic so you will be able to 'get going' straight away.
When on watch choose a subject you wish to learn more about and ask the Watchleader to help you with it.
You may at first just be learning the watch area.
When you feel you know a topic, ask the Watchleader to test you on it and to initial once you have completed it.
When you have completed a competency sign on with one of the training team and they will give a quick test on the competency and sign you off on that subject.
When you have completed all competencies you will become a Watchkeeper subject to a minimum of 15 watches, 3 months service and you are confident.
Once you become a Watchkeeper you will be issued with a Swipe Card and an ID badge and your Epaulettes from the Station Administration Officer.
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
9. Courses (Dates announced each year and are posted in the Lookout) Venue: These take place at either the Scout HQ or the Ordnance Survey Building (See address below) Times Saturday Mornings 09:00 to 12:15 approx with a 15 min break Weekday Evenings 18:00 to 21:00 approx with a 10 min break Course 1 Introduction and Visual Watch Who is it for? New joiners who are commencing training What is it? An overview of the NCI and Calshot Tower The visual watch and how to be a good Lookout from day 1 Course 2 Chartwork Who is it for? New joiners and anyone who would like to refresh chartwork (New joiners have priority) What is it? Completely made up of practical sessions with demonstrations of plotting bearings and distances and understanding a chart and symbols plus tide calculations and tidal diamonds Course 3. All Competencies Who is it for? New joiners What is it? An overview of all the competencies plus practical sessions. Course 4 RYA VHF Radio Who is it for? New joiners who do not hold an RYA Short Range certificate with DSC What is it? Your licence to operate a marine VHF radio Further Development Courses First Aid Optional Certificated Course (Small £10 fee for certificate & handbook) Venues: Saturday courses at the Scout HQ in Dibden Purlieu from 09:00 to 13:00 Weekday courses at the Ordnance Survey Building Nursling from 18:00 to 22:00 Watch Leadership & Incident Management Who is it for? All qualified Watchkeepers What is it? Necessary skills to have to manage an incident Responsibilities of a Watchleader Handling different types of incidents using teamwork Teamwork practical exercise Note: These courses will suit all Watchkeepers as it is always good to sharpen your skills. Venue Addresses Scout HQ Ordnance Survey RNLI Calshot Lifeboat Station Whinfield Road Adanac Drive Calshot Activities Centre Dibden Purlieu Southampton Calshot
SO45 4QA SO16 0AS SO45 2BR 12
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk National Coastwatch Institution EYES ALONG THE COAST Calshot Tower
10. The Cost of being a Member Membership Fee There is an annual membership fee paid each September to the NCI HQ This covers your Accident Insurance costs and HQ overheads. This is currently £25.00 although is adjusted each year. Manuals (one off donation) We ask for a donation towards manuals and documents issued at your first training course. This is currently £10.00 Car Insurance (most companies do not charge) Please check your car insurance to be certain you are covered for commuting for voluntary work. It usually does not cost any more when done with renewal. Note: The NCI insurance covers you for personal accident whilst at the Station or whilst attending an NCI event. This does not include commuting time. Uniform Initially you can wear dark grey or black trousers and a white shirt. To purchase a basic shirt and jumper costs from about £30.00 (£33.00 ladies) Note: If you have a problem with these costs please contact in confidence the Station Manager as we may be able to help.
11. Location Details:
Station: NCI Calshot Tower Address: Calshot Spit Calshot Hampshire Postcode: SO45 1BR Latitude: 50° 49.21'N Longitude: 001° 18.50'W OS Map grid Ref: SU 4884 0252
Good Watchkeeping
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Call sign: Calshot NCI Registered in England & Wales Charity No. 1159975 www.nci.org.uk