Our vision and mission

Maritime safety has always been critical to the ocean economy. Today, as the industry navigates the challenges of climate change, sustainable global supply chains and net zero targets, the Centre asks - what lessons can we learn from the past that will help us shape a safer ocean economy for tomorrow?

Our mission is to inform, educate, influence and inspire policymakers, researchers and business leaders as they meet these challenges. Leveraging our connections, heritage collections and creativity we will increase understanding across the world of the importance of maritime safety to a sustainable and efficient ocean economy.

We will innovate, pioneer and promote best practice within the maritime heritage sector to create the archive of the future, open and accessible to all.

The Heritage Centre maintains a library and archive collection that encompasses all facets of maritime history from 1760 to the present. It represents histories of ships and shipbuilding, navigation, trade routes, cultural exchanges, technology and innovation, social impacts, maritime law, and safety - all relevant to the work of Lloyd’s Register (LR) and the Foundation.

Our extensive heritage collections comprise over 1.1 million documents and chronicle the construction, maintenance, and evolution of ships and maritime trade since the 1830s. These specialist collections are freely accessible both online and in-person at the Lloyd’s Register Building in London.

Our heritage team collaborates with a diverse array of global partners to unlock the value of this archive, promoting a 'Learning from the Past' approach to maritime safety, technical transitions, equity, and transparency. By uncovering historical insights, we can enhance our understanding of the challenges facing the maritime sector, both past and present, and contribute to building a safer, more sustainable, and resilient ocean economy for future generations.