25th November 2016. The Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White, has congratulated NCI Needles on the successful re-assessment of their Declared Facility Status (DFS). 

Retaining their DFS ensures that NCI Needles remain an integral part of the UK Search and Rescue which includes HM Coastguard, the RNLI and Independent Lifeboats up and down the Solent. This year alone NCI Needles, have helped with more than 20 serious incidents.

Located in the lookout tower 400ft above the Needles, watchkeepers scan the waters 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 the Needles are encouraged to free up the emergency radio channels and use Channel 65 for radio checks, and weather reports using ‘Needles NCI’.

A grateful user of Channel 65 has said “I can easily radio them to ask if my companions are safe and if they have concerns they will radio us … they give weather and tidal conditions and a radio check is never a problem. They are a dedicated bunch of volunteer guardian angels on the cliffs”.

Needles NCI are particularly grateful for the support that they have received this year from Sainsbury’s West Cowes, The Vox Pop Choir, Freshwater Bay Golf Club, and Needles Pleasure Cruises.

Photograph courtesy of the Island Echo