Records include shipping registers, transactions volumes, crew lists and agreements and fishing boat applications.
Shipping registers, introduced in 1786, contain details of construction and ownership of ships registered in British ports. Separate "transactions" volumes for recording changes in ownership of shares together with changes of master were introduced in 1825.
Shipping registry documents may include certificates of registry and survey, papers relating to changes of ownership, transfer, wreck etc if applicable.
In 1854 masters of vessels were required to enter into agreements with individual crew members. These agreements record name, age, place of birth, remuneration and conduct of crew members, brief description of voyage and, in some cases, provisions carried on board.
Fishing boat applications concern exemptions from various provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1883. Monthly lists of crew and crew changes were often included with the applications. These papers, formerly known as TRS 2, are to be found amongst the crew lists papers at Whitehaven (YTRS 1).
Microform copies of some shipping records are available and, for conservation reasons, must be consulted in place of the originals.