Shipwreck & marine: UK shipwreck computer index

This computerised wreck index, started in 1978, currently holds a record of some 100,000 lost vessels. It will eventually record every known shipping loss around the coast of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, from about 1100 AD to the present day and represent a unique archive. Unlike the shipwreck index of the Hydrographic Department of the Navy, which is concerned primarily with obstructions that might prove a hazard to shipping, and whose record goes back to only the mid-1800’s, this private index is an historical record of lost vessels. It is maintained on a county basis, which when complete will be unique to this country. 

Each wreck entry, as well as a unique catalogue number, has a possible maximum of thirty fields of information concerning each entry, which include:

• ship’s name
• previous names
• date of Loss
• ship type
• three cargo references
• number of crew
• number of passengers
• number of crew lost
• number of passengers lost
• total persons lost
• port of registry
• flag
• owner
• shipbuilder
• construction
• where built
• year built
• method of propulsion
• horsepower
• boilers
• gross, net or builder’s measurement tonnages
• armament
• voyage from and to
• primary location and loss
• secondary location of loss
• latitude and longitude
• Captain or Master’s name
• bibliography
• up to 16 lines of text relevant to the loss, including diving information where known.

Due to demand from fishermen, divers and the offshore exploration industry, the offshore limit has been extended to 30 miles and around the Scottish Islands to 70 miles. This work formed the basis of the Maritime Archaeological Records (MAR) of underwater sites for England, now maintained by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England through its office in Swindon, also the Scottish and Welsh MAR.

The Shipwreck Index series of books combines previously unpublished information on shipping losses in British and Irish waters.

Each volume details some 7,500 shipwrecks, catalogued in date order with alphabetical indexes and is accompanied by a separate, cumulative alphabetical index of the shipwrecks featured in each volume. There are up to 30 fields of information about each vessel, including construction and ownership, details of cargo, crew, passengers, lives lost, voyage and location.

Also contained in each volume are maps, a comprehensive introduction to the history of shipwrecks, a full bibliography of shipping references and reference sources and wreck photographs.

Six volumes have already been published by Lloyd’s Register (the latter having been published by Lloyd’s Register-Fairplay):

• Volume 1: The South West
• Volume 2: The South Coast
• Volume 3: The East Coast
• Volume 4: Scotland
• Volume 5: The West Coast & Wales
• Volume 6: Ireland

If you would like to purchase any of the volumes of the Shipwreck Index please contact Tor Mark Press (see below).

Richard and Bridget welcome enquiries, but request that they be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. A search fee may be necessary if any enquiry requires any degree of search or other work. Shipwreck & Marine also have a large archive of shipwreck photographs (UK only) and other historic research material. An exchange in data is welcome.

The latest information on their project to make material available online can be found here.