Lloyd's Register of Ships online
Digitised historic editions of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, spanning 1764-2000. Explore over 260 years of maritime history with searchable records by ship name, master, owner, and build location.
Explore 260 Years of Maritime Heritage
Discover the Heritage Centre, home to the world’s largest open-access maritime archive. Our mission is to preserve and share maritime and engineering history to shape a safer, sustainable ocean economy. Access millions of digitised documents, ship plans, and stories from across the globe all free and available online.
Discover the Heritage Centre, home to the world’s largest open-access maritime archive. Our mission is to preserve and share maritime and engineering history to shape a safer, sustainable ocean economy. Access millions of digitised documents, ship plans, and stories from across the globe all free and available online.
+1,100,000
+1,100,000
Explore our collections
documents, ship plans and survey reports freely available online
£7,000,000
£7,000,000
View our partnerships
of grant funding invested in 28 organisations across 12 countries worldwide.
+200,000
+200,000
active users access Heritage Centre resources annually.
Alex Stitt Director of the Heritage Centre
This centre holds information on how the ocean economy has shaped our world from 1760 to today – evidence we can use to address the challenges of our future. This new website is the latest step in our goal to share this heritage on the global stage.
Latest stories
This page was published on
This page is approximately a minute read
Navigation in aquatint: John Thomas Serres’ The Little Sea Torch
In 1801, John Thomas Serres transformed a French navigation guide into a landmark publication by harnessing aquatint engraving, a then-emerging technology. The Little Sea Torch combined artistic skill with practical seafaring knowledge, making coastal navigation clearer and more accessible than ever before.
This page was published on
This page is approximately a minute read
Wrens stitching together: Companiable embroidery & its legacy
A wartime tablecloth, stitched by members of the Women's Royal Naval Service at HMS Leigh, offers a lens through which to explore Wrens' lives, collective creativity, and the enduring legacy of companionable embroidery during the Second World War.
This page was published on
This page is approximately a minute read
Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi: Ever-shifting tides
The career of Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi, as part of the wider SHE_SEES component of the Rewriting Women into Maritime History programme.
This page was published on
This page is approximately a minute read
Oceans apart: Language barriers and communication at sea
Seafaring is one of the world's most internationally diverse professions, with multilingual crews navigating both oceans and communication challenges daily. This article explores how language barriers affect safety and crew relations at sea, and examines whether standardised Maritime English truly bridges the gap.
Latest blogs
This page was published on
This page is approximately a 7 minute read
Frank Brangwyn and the lost Lloyd’s Register artworks
Discover the story of Frank Brangwyn's lost masterpieces, commissioned for Lloyd's Register's iconic headquarters at 71 Fenchurch Street. From celebrated dock worker panels to their mysterious disappearance in the 1960s, this is a fascinating tale of art, history, and rediscovery.
This page was published on
This page is approximately a 7 minute read
Frank Strike Collection: Cornish shipwreck lantern slides
In November 2023, Lloyd's Register Foundation acquired the Frank Strike Collection - 341 rare magic lantern slides documenting Cornish shipwrecks, rescues, and salvage operations from the 1890s to 1960s. Curated by coastguard and local historian Frank Strike, this remarkable archive offers unique insight into maritime history, lifesaving technology, and coastal communities.
This page was published on
This page is approximately a 5 minute read
The records of the Furness Shipbuilding Company
The Furness Shipbuilding Company records have been catalogued at Lloyd's Register's Heritage Centre. Spanning administrative files, photographs, shipbuilding specifications, and financial papers, this collection offers a fascinating window into a major 20th-century shipyard and its broader impact on British maritime and industrial history.
This page was published on
This page is approximately a 6 minute read
Preserving Lloyd’s Register’s rare maritime books & library
Lloyd's Register's maritime library, dating back to 1852, holds over 60,000 volumes with remarkable historical significance. Recently, 14 rare books underwent conservation to ensure their preservation and accessibility. This piece explores the importance of conservation, provenance, and what makes these centuries-old volumes truly special.
Our partners
Collaboration is at the heart of the Heritage Centre. We work with a diverse network of organisations across industry, academia, and the heritage sector to preserve maritime history and advance knowledge for a safer world.
Our partners include leading maritime associations, museums, research institutions, and global initiatives that share our commitment to safety, sustainability, and education.
Together, we digitise archives, develop learning resources, and champion projects that connect the past with the future of engineering and maritime.
