Temporary Closure Now Ended

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Following our temporary closure, we are pleased to announce that Gosport NCI will reopen at 9am on Wednesday 22 November and will operate as normal thereafter. 

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Station Manager Interview For this Blog entry we interviewed Colin Church, Station Manger of NCI Gosport, to find out more about NCI and how the Gosport station operates. Q. We know that the NCI Gosport station overlooks the harbour entrance at Fort Blockhouse, but when did it first open ? Colin. The station opened in 2008 and has been in continuous operation since then, apart from a brief hiatus due to the covid lockdown. Q. How many volunteers man the station ? How many are there at any one time ? Colin. We have about 60 volunteers - more formally called ‘Watchkeepers’ - at Gosport. We open the station at 9am each day with two watchkeepers on duty; they hand over to another two at 12.30pm. In the summer months another two come on duty at 4pm; they close the station at 7.30pm. We have an online rostering system so that watchkeepers can choose what days and times they wish to be on duty. On average each watchkeeper will be on duty about three times per month. Q. Can anyone
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The weird and wonderful 3! (Part 2)

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As watchkeepers based in Portsmouth harbour entrance, we get the opportunity to see an amazing variety of different vessels......... Commercial Tugs at work. Tugs are an important part of Portsmouth harbour. Admiralty tugs and SERCO tugs help ensure the safety of shipping transiting the harbour. Becoming a watchkeeper: If you would like to become a watchkeeper, email the station manager at richard.suggitt@nci.org.uk for more information. Making a donation to Gosport NCI: Text NCIGOSPORT to 70450 to donate £5. Social Media Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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In Command Of an Antarctic Supply Ship

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The Watchkeepers of NCI Gosport come from many and various diferent backgrounds.   Unsurprisingly, given the population of Gosport, some come from the armed services, and others have long maritime experience.   Others bring skills honed in industrial or commercial arenas.   But some have seen and done things that the rest of us can only dream about…   as in this article sent in by a Watchkeeper who, for reasons of anonymity, we will call Captain ‘SJL’. Despite his grey hair and beard, he stands more watches that any other Watchkeeper and you may hear him on our VHF Channel 65 from time to time. In Command Of an Antarctic Supply Ship Submitted by Captain ‘SJL’, MBF RD RNR It was in November 1974 that I took over command of the RRS Bransfield, the British Antarctic Survey's (BAS) ice-strengthened logistics vessel supporting the 5 scientific research stations that BAS operated in the British Antarctic Territory. The RRS Bransfield, 4816 grt, 1577 nrt, launched in Leith in 1970,
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