The UK-registered charity National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has announced a strategic partnership with Sirius Insight, the UK government’s trusted maritime situational awareness specialist. The collaboration aims to improve coastal surveillance and safety measures through substantial funding and technological advancements. 

Sirius Insight, known for its combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sensor technology, has committed to a decade-long financial contribution to the NCI. This funding security will help the charity expand its network of observation stations and upgrade existing facilities, enhancing its ability to monitor coastal waters. 

A comprehensive programme – spearheaded by Sirius – will work to modernise the NCI’s 60 stations with state-of-the-art equipment, including advanced cameras, radar systems and communication devices, improving its surveillance capabilities. 

Malcolm Glaister, CEO of Sirius Insight, emphasises the importance of such a collaboration: “It is an honour to be able to support and partner with the amazing team at the National Coastwatch Institution, whose volunteers work tirelessly and selflessly to keep the coastal waters of England and Wales safe for all who use and pass through them. We have been working with NCI and its team for over four years at stations around the coastline. This new collaboration and long-term commitment enable us to bring new sensors and world-class technologies that make the NCI’s work even more effective and valuable.”

The timing of the partnership is particularly poignant as the NCI celebrates its 30th anniversary. Over the past three decades, the charity has played a crucial role in coastal safety. The organisation is entirely self-funded and relies on public support and corporate sponsorship such as this. Recent NCI data estimated that each station costs at least £5,000-£6,000 a year to operate.

David Crozier, CEO of the NCI, expresses his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are delighted to formalise our strategic partnership with Sirius Insight. It’s a natural partnership for us, bringing class-leading technologies to our stations, helping us expand and improve our network, and continuing to help save lives around the coast. We’re deeply grateful for the most generous support and long-term commitment of Sirius Insight, which has already demonstrated itself during this summer’s incredibly successful 30th anniversary station-to-station flag relay. We’re looking forward to continuing our work together now and into the future.” 

Image courtesy of National Coastwatch Institute.

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