The collection includes monthly lists of deaths of seamen, 1916-1989 (RSS/A); apprentices' indentures in the form of samples for the years 1845 to 1848, 1850, 1851, 1853 and 1856 (RSS/AI); returns of births and deaths of crew, 1914-1964 (RSS/B); returns of births and deaths of passengers 1914-1941, (RSS/C); alphabetical indexes of deaths of merchant seamen by enemy action or natural causes during the Second World War, (RSS/D); masters' certificates of competency and service, 1845-1927 (RSS/MC); crew lists and official logs, 90% for voyages ending in the year '5' e.g. 1915 (RSS/CL); fishing skippers and second hands certificates of competency and service, 1884-1907 (RSS/SC) and engineers' certificates of competency and service, 1862-1921 (RSS/EC).