Ships Archive is an independent ship photo and information website covering merchant vessels, passenger ships, warships and the records they leave behind.
Our purpose is to make a ship easier to identify and her history easier to follow. That means establishing which vessel a photograph shows, explaining the work she was designed to perform and tracing the changes that occurred during her career.
A useful profile needs more than a name and a list of dimensions. Construction dates can refer to different milestones. Tonnage can be reported under different measurement systems. A photograph may show a later conversion rather than the vessel as built. We aim to make those distinctions clear.
Our coverage includes ship design, machinery, cargo and passenger arrangements, operational service, accidents, wrecks, preservation and dismantling. Historical vessels and events receive the same attention to identification and sourcing as more recent subjects.
Our sources
We give priority to records produced by shipbuilders, registries, maritime administrations, naval archives, accident investigation bodies, museums and established collections. Contemporary documents and specialist books help place those records in context.
A source is assessed for the information it can support. An operator’s brochure may describe accommodation accurately while offering little explanation of an accident. A photograph can establish a visible alteration without proving when the work was completed.
Articles identify their principal sources so readers can examine the evidence and continue their own research. When records conflict, we explain the difference rather than present an uncertain detail as settled fact.
Our photographs
Photographs are part of the historical record. We aim to identify their subjects, dates, locations and relevant features, and to credit each image according to its licence or permission.
We distinguish photographs from artwork, models, reconstructions and diagrams. A photograph of a sister ship is not presented as a photograph of the vessel being discussed.
Corrections and contributions
Ships Archive is intended to improve as better evidence becomes available. Readers can suggest corrections, identify photographs or draw attention to useful records.
Contact contact@shipsarchive.com with the relevant page address and supporting material. Please tell us whether any information or images you send may be published.
