Calshot NCI station's area of responsibility extends as far as the watchkeepers can see. This can be as close as the coastline visible from the tower, including the more immediate surroundings of Fawley and Calshot itself but on a clear day this reaches to the Palmerston Forts at the eastern end of the Solent.
Calshot NCI tower is situated on Calshot Spit which is a one-mile long sand and shingle bank at the seaward end of Southampton Water. The tower is owned by ABP and was built in 1973 as part of the Southampton VTS radar chain. The lookout viewing platform is approximately 100 feet above sea level and has a 360° view over Southampton Water and the Solent with a horizon distance of 11 nautical miles. It served as a Coastguard lookout from 1974 until the 1990s and was opened as an NCI station in July 2010.
Over 6500 major vessel movements were logged by our volunteer watchkeepers in 2011 but the priority for watchkeepers is keeping a lookout for vulnerable craft and those at greatest risk. The port of Southampton is one of the Country's busiest with constant commercial traffic. This includes the world's largest cruise ships, container vessels and oil tankers, as well as regular car ferry and high-speed ferry services through the area so the need for volunteer watchkeepers has never been greater.
Rules for NCI volunteers will be per the National NCI Constitution.
If you are a regular visitor to Calshot or a user of the Centre, you may consider it worthwhile purchasing an annual parking permit from the Activities Centre.
General Information: calshot.tower@nci.org.uk
Secretary: calshot.secretary@nci.org.uk
Website: www.nci.org.uk/calshot
08.00 - 17.00 Winter, 08.00 - 20.00 Summer
After massive fundraising, stretching over 3 years, there is now an NCI base within Lepe Country Park, named Stone Point, which covers the waters and coastal paths of the Western Solent. We really appreciate your support.
