PRESS RELEASE
21 October 2024 – Sirius Insight (“Sirius”) today announces the launch of a national strategic partnership with the charity National Coastwatch Institution (“NCI”), which will help improve the safety of UK coastal waters. This long term partnership will deliver operational funding and technology upgrades enabling greater coverage and effect.
Sirius Insight is the UK’s leading specialist in maritime situational awareness, combining Artificial Intelligence and state-of-the-art sensor equipment to transform the cost and effectiveness of maritime surveillance in global markets. Sirius is proud to be supporting a leading UK maritime charity that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and plays an important role in helping to save lives around the coastline of England and Wales.
The agreement between Sirius and NCI sees a significant financial contribution, secured for the next 10 years, which will allow the NCI greater confidence in investing in new stations and upgrading existing facilities.
Additionally, Sirius will contribute to a rolling programme of sensor upgrades, including camera, radar, and communication across the 60 stations.
Malcolm Glaister, Chief Executive Officer of Sirius Insight, said:
“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 enables us to bring new sensors and world class technologies that make the NCI’s work even more effective and valuable.”
David Crozier, Chief Executive Officer of NCI, said:
“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 to expand and improve our network and continue 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,” he said.
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About Sirius Insight
Sirius Insight is the UK’s leading specialist in maritime situational awareness, combining Artificial Intelligence and sensors and sources on land and sea, in the air and space, to autonomously detect and classify marine activity, transforming the cost and effectiveness of maritime surveillance globally.
Sirius Insight has developed its services in collaboration with a wide variety of users including the UK’s Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC), operators and watchkeepers on land and sea, marine insurance providers and maritime regulators.
About the National Coastwatch Institution
The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) is a Registered Charity (No. 1159975) and it operates 60 stations around the coasts of England and Wales. The stations are staffed by over 2,700 qualified volunteers. Volunteers from every walk of life are welcome and all are fully trained including; reading maritime charts, operating VHF radios and interpreting weather and tides.
National Coastwatch Institution volunteer watchkeepers help to keep people safe and save lives at sea by maintaining a daily visual and radio watch of the coast, looking out for anyone in potential danger. They report any coastal safety-related incidents to HM Coastguard so that expert help can be sent, including the Coastguard Rescue Teams and helicopters, the RNLI, independent lifeboats and all emergency services.
Funds are needed to help continue the charity’s lifesaving work assisting HM Coastguard. This includes the development of new stations and safety cameras, essential maintenance, public safety programmes, equipment and training.
To support NCI: National Coastwatch Institution - JustGiving