Merchant Shipping Movement Cards

If you are researching a particular vessel then it is vital that you obtain the "Merchant Shipping Movement Card" for the vessel from the National Archives (example here). This document lists all of the the ports of call, the dates of arrival and departure, damage, repairs, convoy designations etc., that the vessel made during the period January 1, 1939 -
December 31, 1946. If the record exists then it may be obtained from the National Archives or ordered quite cheaply over the Internet by quoting the file reference and name of the vessel. Note that merchant vessels used as troopships, hospital ships etc. are not normally included.

The archive is divided into two sections - British and Allied ships. You may use the reference finder below to determine the file reference that relates to the vessel and obtain a link to that reference on the National Archive web site. Copies of the documents can be mailed world-wide or emailed to you by 'Digital Express' - merely follow the link to The National Archives site and select 'Request this' but make sure that you specify 'only copy [name of vessel]' on your order .

Digital Express is a same day service and you will be emailed a link where you can download your file pages as JPEG images. The cost for this service is currently £8.50 (ca. $17 US) for a maximum of 10 pages. Payment is by credit card which will be billed in Pounds Sterling and converted to your local currency where applicable.