Lloyd's Register of Ships and how it developed

The customers of Edward Lloyd`s coffee house, who were used to doing business in its sociable atmosphere, formed the Register Society. This later became Lloyd`s Register.

First Register of Ships published, to inform underwriters and merchants about the condition of vessels they insured or chartered. An important feature has been the classification of the hull and equipment of vessels. Following a survey, Lloyd`s Register assigned to it a `class`, depending on how well it had been built and its current condition. If it was to remain `in class`, the ship had to have regular surveys.

Second edition published.

Annual publication began. Subscribers in London could have their registers `posted` with alterations each week. They actually had two copies, and each week one was collected for amendment whilst the other was returned for use. `Posting` continued until 1966.

Register of Ships gave a higher class to ships built on the Thames. This caused dissatisfaction which led to the establishment of a rival register, the `Red Book`. Register of Ships was known to as the `Green Book`.

After a period of intense and damaging competition, the `Red` and `Green` Books amalgamated to become Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping .

Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping began to include all British vessels over 100 gross tons in addition to both British and foreign vessels classed by Lloyd`s Register. Details of the engines of steamships were now included.

Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping first included a list of owners and their ships.

Liverpool Underwriters` Registry for Iron Vessels merged with Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping . This had appeared annually since 1862, following a dispute with Lloyd`s Register about the classification of iron ships.

An important increase in coverage resulted from the Universal Register , published in parallel with Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping . The Universal Register attempted to list all seagoing merchant vessels in the world over 100 gross tons. However, entries were brief, especially for sailing ships.

Included for the first time were lists of former names of ships, of ships with names made up of two or more words, and of British shipbuilders with the names of all existing vessels they had built. Foreign builders were included in the list from 1887. Also included was a list of dry and floating docks, and pontoons. Signal letters of ships were also recorded, as were war vessels of all nations.

Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping was expanded to two volumes to include the information previously given in the Universal Register , which ceased publication after 1890. Sailing vessels and steam ships were listed separately. Some of the information given in the Universal Register now appeared in the Appendix of Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping .

Lloyd`s Register of British and Foreign Shipping changed its name to Lloyd`s Register of Shipping .

Steam and motor vessels over and under 300 gross tons were listed separately, sailing ships continuing to appear in another list.

All vessels regardless of size or propulsion placed in one list, published in two volumes. Sailing vessels were removed from the list, unless they were classed by Lloyd`s Register. This method of listing continues to the present day, although three volumes are now needed.

British Corporation Register amalgamated with Lloyd`s Register of Shipping . Since 1893 it had been published by a rival classification society, the British Corporation. This was formed in Glasgow in 1890 because some shipbuilders and owners disagreed with certain rules of Lloyd`s Register.

Lloyd`s Register of Ships now published by Lloyds Register-Fairplay Ltd. The current Register includes details of around 88,000 ships. It is available to subscribers as printed books, on CD-ROM and over the Internet.