Chris Braham was stationed at Cowes for 9 months in 1968 and recalls:

'A dinghy was used at Cowes Waterguard station to get out to board incoming yachts displaying the yellow flag indicating that they required Customs clearance. These particular yachts were on the buoys near to the office. The clearance of other yachts further away within the station was done by use of the Customs launch. This same launch would take us further up the River Medina where small cargo ships berthed with coal, coke and bone. They were mainly small Dutchmen. The same launch was used to transport Waterguard staff out to 'Cowes Roads' in the Solent, at the southern end of Southampton Water, where huge tankers waited their turn to berth at the oil refinery of Fawley operated by Esso. The Customs boarding procedures for these particular tankers were performed by staff from the Cowes Office.

I reflect often of going out in the launch to board these tankers in the middle of night, often in very rough and extreme conditions. The launch would get you alongside and then it was for you, with that Waterguard greatcoat on and with the brown boarding case strapped across your back, to make a grab, with the launch crew's assistance, for the 'Jacob's ladder' and begin that perilous journey up the side of the tanker.

With the wind howling, with rain driving into you, with temperatures often very low and often with iced ladder steps I sometimes consider what life was really like before all of this nonsense of Health and Safety in the workplace. Perhaps it was a time for real men? Seriously activities as I have described would have no place in the modern workplace and it is for others to determine if that is a good thing or a bad thing.' 

Russ Ayling was stationed at Southampton and recalls:

'A timber berth at Eling where I can remember steam cranes operating plus the base for landing craft.''

Chris Braham was stationed at Cowes for 9 months in 1968 and recalls:

'The Cowes launch would take us further up the River Medina where small cargo ships berthed with coal, coke and bone. They were mainly small Dutchmen.' '