A voluntary organisation keeping a visual watch along UK shores

Calshot Tower - QAVS

Welcome to NCI Calshot Tower Lookout Station. The station is situated on Calshot Spit where Southampton Water meets the Solent, one of the busiest coastal sea locations in the UK. In 2019 the Station was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS).

Please use the left hand menu (or the "Station details" menu on a phone or tablet) to discover:  what we do, information about going on the Solent or  visiting Calshot, or if you would like to join us as a Watchkeeper or otherwise support our work.

During Summer 2019 NCI Calshot Tower is also manning a satellite station at Stone Point (in Lepe Country Park) on a trial basis.

Below is a brief outline summary of our Operational Capability. The station is open every day of the year except Christmas day.

Visitor Policy
Unfortunately, because the Station can only be accessed by vertical ladders within Calshot Tower, public visits are normally not possible. Individual visits are possible on a pre-arranged basis.
Operational capability
This station has Declared Facility Status
This station reports to NMOC Fareham
Present weather and sea conditions call direct VHF ch. 65 (or by 'phone) during watch hours
Defibrillator Available: 
Mounted internally available when lookout is open
Station Telephone: 
023 8089 3562
Visual Watch: 
Yes
Radar Watch: 
No
NAVTEX: 
No
AIS Watch: 
Yes
CCTV Watch: 
CCTV of the local inshore area parallel to the Sunderland hangar
DSC Watch: 
No
Radio: Listening watch on channels: 
12
16
67
Radio: Channels in use (call direct not via ch 16): 
65
Radio: Channel 00: 
Listening watch and ready to transmit as authorised by Coastguard
Station Call Sign: 
Calshot NCI
Other Watch Information: 
For Radio Checks, inshore forecast and present weather, sea conditions and local information call direct on VHF ch.65
Visual Horizon: 
11.4nm towards the east Solent; Southampton Water to Dock Head but obstructed by the Esso jetties; a line from Newtown River to Stansore Point in the west Solent

Station Info

Station Address
Calshot Tower
Calshot Spit
Calshot
SO45 1BR
Station telephone number
023 8089 3562
Station email address

[email protected]

Station contact
Sue Rudge ( [email protected] )
Station contact role
Secretary
Summer opening
Open from: 
08:00
Open until: 
20:00
Days: 
Every Day
Notes: 
Summer times commences at the start of BST.
Winter opening
Open from: 
08:00
Open until: 
17:00
Days: 
Every Day
Notes: 
Winter hours commences at the end of BST.
Location
Latitude: 
50° 49.21' N
Longitude: 
1° 18.48' W
OS Reference: 
SU 488 025
Station Elevation: 
100 feet; 30.5m
What3Words: 
flattery.carpeted.political
Visual features of station
The lookout is a tall tower 112 ft high, standing at the end of Calshot Spit at the entrance to Southampton Water. Originally built in 1973 to house the Coastguard lookout with a radar scanner on the top, it was decommissioned in 1993 and re-opened as an NCI station in 2010.

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About

Currently 56 NCI stations are operational and manned by over 2500 volunteers keeping watch around the British Isles from Rossall  Point in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 

NCI watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies offering a variety of skills and experience, and full training by the NCI ensures that high standards are met.

Contact


General enquiries
0300 111 1202

Media enquiries
0845 460 1202


[email protected]


17 Dean Street, Liskeard,
Cornwall, PL14 4AB