The papers cover the period from 1938 to 1975. The Declaration of Survey usually accompanies the Certificate of Safety for each vessel. Although the certificates were granted annually, due to the repeated duplication of information, only the first Certificates and Declaration has been retained for each vessel. The period that was covered by the documentation for each vessel is nonetheless noted in the catalogue records.

Exceptions are for ten vessels in each of the six categories of certificate: short voyages to sea in summer, in daylight and in fine weather; international voyages; home trade other than international; voyages in smooth water; voyages in partially smooth waters; and voyages for short distances to sea. For these vessels the complete documentation has been retained and their names are given in this catalogue.

Administrative / biographical background
During the nineteenth century successive governements were forced to intervene to ensure safety at sea. Legislation of a piecemeal nature between 1835 and 1853 gave the Board of Trade considerable powers which, by 1857, were administered by twelve departments, one of which was the Marine Department. Transferred several times between the Board of Trade and Ministry for Transport, the Marine Directorate became part of the Department of Transport. Under the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894 all motoer vessels carrying twelve or more passengers - ranging from pleasure launches and steamers to large liners and including foreign ships cruising in UK waters - had to obtain a Certificate of Safety based on a Declaration of Survey. The Declaration stated that the hull, machinery, life-saving appliances, lights, signals, compasses and fire-fighting equipment were in the required condition. The Declaration also gives a vessel's owner, date of construction, plying limits, passenger accomodation and details of its equipment, and alterations or renewals in machinery or hull. It was made a criminal offence to send or take a vessel to sea in a condition that could endanger life. The Certificate of Safety had to be renewed annually, expired on a ship being transferred to a new owner, and was conditional on the report of changes in master or engineer, accidents or damage.