The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Station at Nare Point has reopened after being shut for more than two months.

The station was closed on March 18 following the national trustees' decision to close all 56 stations in England and Wales because of Covid-19.

To ensure the health and wellbeing of the volunteer watchkeepers, until further notice each watch will be staffed by a single watchkeeper instead of the usual two and opening hours will be from 10am to 5pm, seven days a week.

Visits to the station by the public will not be possible for some time.

Watchkeepers, who trimmed vegetation to enable access to the station, will resume broadcasting current weather and sea conditions on VHF Channel 65 three times a day at 10.40am, 1.40pm and 4.40pm.

This service was begun in March. Vessels can also call “Nare Point NCI” on Channel 65 to make radio and AIS checks and to request current weather and sea conditions and local information.

NCI Nare Point opened in 2007 and is located on the south side of the Helford entrance in a former Ministry of Defence torpedo tracking station.

Watchkeepers seek to secure the safety of those on the water in the entrance to the Helford and Falmouth Bay. All incidents are referred to Her Majesty’s Coastguard at Falmouth.

Watches also keep an eye on those using the South West Coastal Path, which passes the station's door.

NCI Nare Point is a busy station, recording upwards of 18,000 vessel movements each year and on average reporting 14 to 18 incidents.

Each station is expected to raise its own annual running costs.

NCI Nare Point uses collection boxes, organises events, supermarket and street collections, runs a 50-50 Club and has some generous “Friends of Nare Point”.

The current challenges of the virus are restricting the station's ability to raise the £6,000 running costs for this current year.