P&O Links

UK Museums

National Maritime Museum

The P&O archive is on permanent loan to the National Maritime Museum, at Royal Museums Greenwich, where it is publicly accessible in the Caird Libary. The Library also holds a substantial archive of other shipping lines and shipbuilders, outlined here in their Shipping Companies research guide.

In the museum, you can see a number of ship models and items on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Part of the National Maritime Museum, NMM Cornwall explores the maritime heritage of Cornwall and Falmouth where it's located. Falmouth was the original mail port and our painting of the P&O mail steamer TAGUS (1837) is on display in the museum.

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

Included in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum are the archives and photographs of shipping and shipbuilders from Northern Ireland including Harland & Wolff, who built several ships for P&O. In the museum's collection, look out for a ship model of the passenger liner IBERIA (1954) (on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection) and an original illuminated deck plan from CANBERRA (1961) gifted by P&O to the museum in 1998.

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Merseyside Maritime Museum has an excellent collection and substantial archive relating to merchant shipping particularly shipping companies serving the Port of Liverpool. A number of ship models in the museum are on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

Museum of London Docklands

The Museum of London Docklands explores the social and economic significance of the port of London, for a time the busiest in the world. P&O has a long history with the Port of London where the company began. Today DP World is operates London Gateway, the UK’s most advanced, connected and integrated logistics hub.

The Dock Museum

The Dock Museum has a superb collection of ship models donated by the Barrow shipyard including an unusual mechanised model of ORIANA (1960). Until recently a full hull 1:48 scale, builder's model of the passenger liner STRATHNAVER was on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum is a multi-branch national museum of war and wartime life from the First World War, through the Second World War, to the present day. The museums collections and archive include a wealth of material relating to the merchant navy service during both World Wars.

Buckler's Hard

Buckler's Hard and Museum offers a fascinating insight into the shipbbuilding village from its 18th century beginnings. Originally founded as a free port for the trading of sugar, Buckler’s Hard actually flourished as a naval shipbuilding centre and has become famous for building warships for Nelson’s Navy, including three vessels that took part in the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Museum's permanent exhibition also details the vital role the Beaulieu river played during WWII and the D-Day landings and includes the survivor's story of Lord Montague and the ill-fated voyage of the P&O Liner S.S. PERSIA torpedoed by a German U-Boat in 1915.

Dover Transport Museum

Formed in 1980 the Dover Transport Museum is a large local volunteer-run museum set in two acres. Look out for a full hull model of the General Steam Navigation Company pleasure steamer ROYAL SOVEREIGN (1948) on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

Ramsgate Maritime Museum

Situated in the Clock House on the quayside at Ramsgate Harbour, the Museum focuses strongly on Ramsgate and its immediate environs, with a brief introduction to the rest of the region's maritime past. Look out for the G.S.N.Co. QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL ship model on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

Opened in 2005, the National Waterfront Museum at Swansea tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales over the last 300 years. Until recently the Coast Lines ship model of BRITISH COAST (1934) was on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

River and Rowing Museum

The River and Rowing Museum at Henley celebrates the history of rowing, the Thames and the local area and artists, including the renowned John Piper. Piper created his monumental work "Landscape of the Two Seasons" for ORIANA (1960), in his studio close to Henley. The mural, which is preserved in the P&O Heritage Collection, was on display in the museum for several years.

The Fish Quay - North Shields

The Fish Quay dates back to the 13th century and features amongst its many historical elements, Clifford’s Fort - a Scheduled Ancient Monument built in the 17th Century as part of a network of coastal defences. Today’s working quay is the perfect place for a day out... sample fresh fish and chips, fine dining in one of the many restaurants or simply sit back and take in a colourful slice of modern, Quay life.

Overseas Museums

Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum explores Australia's links with the sea and occupies a spectacular location on the western shore of Sydney's Darling Harbour. The museum displays include the P&O sponsored "Passengers" exhibition with a full hull, builder's model of ORCADES (1937). The archive collections include manuscripts and printed materials relating to P&O, Orient Line and Eastern Australian much of which was deposited by P&O.

Queensland Maritime Museum

The Queensland Maritime Museum has the most complete history of Maritime Events in Queensland, Australia. Climb on board the historic steam powered tug FORCEFUL, restored to her B.I. colours, and visit the museum's impressive collections where you will find full size, builders models of OTRANTO (1909) and ORION (1935) on display.

Melbourne Museum, Victoria

Melbourne Museum explores life in Victoria, from the natural environment to culture and history. Look out for a full hull, builders model of ORCADES (1948) on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection and on display in the museum.

Hong Kong Maritime Museum

Hong Kong Maritime Museum pays tribute to the history and development of Hong Kong and China's colourful maritime past. Look out for a painting of P&O's POTTINGER (1846) and the ships bell from NORNA (1853) on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

Please note: Hong Kong Maritime Museum will be closing it's Murray House, Stanley site to the public on 4th June and relocating to Central Ferry Pier to be open again with new galleries in January 2013. Please check the Hong Kong Maritime Museum website for more information.

New Zealand National Maritime Museum

Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum is New Zealand's national maritime museum, located at the Viaduct Harbour on Auckland's Hobson Wharf. In the museum's collections and archives the New Zealand Shipping Company is well represented and P&O Heritage has loaned a painting of N.Z.S.Co.'s REMUERA (1911), by Frank Barnes, to the museum's collection.

Otago Museum

The Maritime Gallery at the Otago Maritime Museum was opened to the public in July 1973. At present it contains 58 model boats, original ship flags and bells. Look out for the full hull, builders models of RANGITOTO (1949) and RANGITANE (1949) on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

Museum of Wellington City & Sea

800 years of Wellington's maritime history, from waka to container ship, are celebrated on the central floor of the Museum.

Vancouver Maritime Museum

The Vancouver Maritime Museum is devoted to preserving the maritime history of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Canadian Arctic. Look out for the full hull, builder's model of the passenger liner ORSOVA (1954) on loan from the P&O Heritage Collection.

UK Archives & Libraries

The National Archives

The National Archive is the UK government's official archive containing over 11 million historical government and public records. Their vast collections include many records relating to ships, seamen and passengers which are referenced in our research guides.

Southampton City Council Archives

Southampton City Council Archives hold a variety of material relating to shipping and merchant seamen. Most valuable is their collection of crew lists and agreements.

Glasgow Libraries

Glasgow Libraries hold Glasgow City Council Archives collection of shipbuilding records for a number of Clydeside shipbuilders including Barclay, Curle & Co and A & J Inglis Ltd as well as some shipping companies archives and the Ralston photographic collection.

University of Glasgow - Scottish Business Archives

The Scottish Business Archives records cover almost all types of businesses and industries in Scotland's history including shipbuilding and shipowning.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Amongst its various functions the MCA holds the official records for the Registry of Shipping and Seamen.

Guildhall Library

The Guildhall Library in London holds business records for some P&O affiliate companies, copies of Lloyd's List and a variety of family history resources.

London Metropolitan Archives

The London Metropolitan Archives is the largest local authority archive in the UK, covering the whole of Greater London (former counties of London and Middlesex). They hold business records for some P&O affiliate companies, copies of Lloyd's List and a variety of family history resources.

The British Library

Amid the vast collections of the British Library is the original prospectus for the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company published in 1834 (Shelfmark: 1890.b.3.(132.).

Wessex Film and Sound Archive

Wessex Film and Sound Archive holds the majority of the P&O Film archive as well as a number of other useful film, sound and video material. The archive is a specialist regional repository based at Hampshire Record Office in Winchester.

The Royal Philatelic Society London

The P&O Heritage Collection of stamp covers is on loan to the Royal Philatelic Society where it available to researchers by appointment only.

The Bartlett Library

This is a great resource to find out about Falmouth maritime history and emigration from the port. The Bartlett Library, based at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, houses a diverse collection of maritime reference books, periodicals and archive material for public consultation and reference with free admission.

Overseas Archives & Libraries

National Archives of Australia

National Archives of Australia hold a selection of passenger lists for various ports around Australia from 1924-1964.

Maritime History Archive - Memorial University of Newfoundland

They hold a variety of material relating to shipping and merchant seamen. Most valuable is their collection of crew lists and agreements.

Archives New Zealand

Archives New Zealand holds the majority of public records in New Zealand concerning shipping and immigration.

Public Record Office Victoria, Australia

The Public Record Office Victoria in Melbourne hold a shipping index for inward and outward bound vessels to and from Victoria, Australia from 1839-1923.

Sydney Heritage Fleet

Museum and archive preserving information on Australian registered ships and Australian seafarers located adjacent to the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

Family History Websites & Online Research

See also individual Ship History Websites for online crew communitities.

Access to Archives UK

Part of the UK Archives network, Access to Archives (A2A) is an online database containing catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day.

Ancestry.co.uk

Ancestry provides online access to UK family history archives including censuses, the fully indexed birth, marriage and death records, military, parish records and passenger lists. Inward passenger lists for 1878-1960, which draw on the Board of Trade's records of arrivals into the UK, are fully searchable and accessible online for a small fee.

Ancestors On Board

In association with The National Archives, Ancestors on Board provides online searchable database of the UK Board of Trade's outward passenger lists for ships leaving leaving from UK ports between 1890-1960.

AUSNZ Online Guide to Passenger Lists

An online guide for family historians to find the vessels that transported passengers to Australasia.

CLIP - Crew List Index Project

Online resource providing information on merchant seafarers on British registered ships between 1861 and 1913.

Find My Past

An online search engine which draws from original sources to locate records of births, marriages and deaths both at sea and abroad. The website also contains a large quantity of other family history resources.

Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria

Online Index to Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria, Australia 1852-1923.

Mariners - World Ship Society

An online network concerned in all areas of merchant seamen records (not passengers) both at repositories and within merchant communities online.

Maritime History Archive - Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Maritime History Archive holds a variety of material relating to shipping and merchant seamen. Most valuable is their collection of crew lists and agreements which give access to details of 80,000 seafarers on British registered ships.

Merchant Navy Association

The Merchant Navy Association can provide reports on Merchant Seafarers based upon surviving records as well as ship voyages and service medals.

Merchant Navy Memorial

An online resource that contains information about seamen serving in both World Wars including a search function to find persons lost during war time.

Moving Here

This website explores, records and illustrates why people migrated to England over the last 200 years and what their experiences were and continue to be.

National Archives of Australia

National Archives of Australia hold a selection of passenger lists for various ports around Australia from 1924-1964.

National Library of Australia - Australia Trove

Online search engine providing results for enquiries gathered from a number of Australian Repositories.

Naval-History.Net

Online resource maintained in conjunction with the National Maritime Museum, the British Library and the Library of Congress which lists records from both World Wars, Royal Navy casualty lists and information about the Falklands War.

Seadogs Reunited

Seadogs Reunited is all about the men and women who worked at sea in any capacity and providing a means of reuniting with past crew. Seafarers are listed in alphabetical order for ease in your search. The website also includes brief histories for a small number of historical ships.

Crew Lists of the British Merchant Navy - 1915

The Crew Lists of the British Merchant Navy from the year 1915 have been digitised and made available to search for free as a result of a National Archives and National Maritime Museum project. Find relatives and loved ones via this database of over 39,000 crew lists.

Society of Geneologists UK

Provides information and advise for beginners seeking out family history information.

Billion Graves

'Discover and honour your ancestors' Billion Graves is the world′s largest resource for searchable GPS cemetery data.

Ship History Websites & Online Resources

BI Ship

An online network concerned with all things associated with British India Steam Navigation Company. Includes data on B.I. ships and access to an online group of ex B.I. employees.

Miramar Ship Index

Online database of ship names, shipbuilders, specifications and brief ship histories including name changes.

Ship Index

Online database of ship names which appear in written text. Full bibliographic information is provided for each entry.

SS Canberra.com

A website concerned with the history, technical information and memorabilia of SS Canberra. Also includes access to an online community of ex Canberra crew and passengers.

The Ships List

Online resource providing over 2,000 passenger lists and information pertaining to ships and shipping lines with over 400 unique fleets. This site is free to access.

The Strathallan Story

Very informative site commemorating the wartime history of Strathallan and including survivors accounts of the loss of Strathallan on 21st December 1942.

New Zealand Shipping Company Association

The Association has over 200 members worldwide, and open to all those that worked for the New Zealand Shipping Company.

Come and join us, and be part of the NZSCo family.

The Medway Queen Preservation Society

The official site for the Medway Queen Preservation Society. The society owns and operates the paddle steamer MEDWAY QUEEN (1924) and the website details the history of the ship and the society.

Yalumba

Yalumba is the private website of maritime historian Michael Ian Byard and includes a wealth of information about various shipping lines and ships that he has had connections with.

Maritime Societies & Organisations

P&O Nedlloyd

The PONL Heritage Group exists to preserve the history, memories and memorabilia of P&O Nedlloyd and to provide a platform whereby its former employees may stay in touch with each other.

Marine Society & Sea Cadets

MSSC works to ensure that seafarers of all the sea services can access a range of educational opportunities and assists young people by offering them training and education in the maritime discipline.

Mariners - World Ship Society

An online network concerned in all areas of merchant seamen records (not passengers) both at repositories and within merchant communities online.

Mission to Seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers operates in more than 230 ports caring for the practical and spiritual welfare of seafarers of all nationalities and faiths.

National Historic Ships

National Historic Ships, with its governing Advisory Committee, is concerned with the preservation of historic ships and vessels in the UK.

New Zealand Ship and Marine Society

An online society concerned with the preservation of shipping history, memorabilia, photographs and literature dealing with New Zealand.

Ocean Liner Society

The Ocean Liner Society is a non-profit organisation whose members celebrate the passenger ships in its many forms.

Port Cities UK

Online resource which provides general information about five major UK port cities including London, Bristol, Hartlepool, Liverpool and Southampton.

Ships Nostalgia

Ships Nostalgia is an international forum and discussion board for all things ships and shipping, providing a friendly online community, advanced discussion board and gallery.

The Merchant Navy Association

The mission of the Merchant Navy Association is to bring all serving and retired Seafarers together in a spirit of companionship, consideration, and commitment towards a united lobby for the Community of the Sea. The association can also provide reports on Merchant Seafarers based upon surviving records as well as ship voyages and service medals.

The South West Maritime History Society

Society focusing on maritime history and ships in South West England.

The Naval and Maritime Libraries and Archives Group

A network of organisations that have naval and/or maritime related collections and archives.

World Ship Society

The World Ship Society focuses on all aspects of maritime history including ship histories, museums, publications and photographs. Some relevant publications can be found here.

Naval Technology

A dedicated reference resource for professionals, students and other stakeholders within the naval industry offering daily news release, feature articles and on-going project analysis.

Maritime Archaeology Trust

The Maritime Archaeology Trust (MAT) strives to 'to promote understanding and enjoyment of maritime heritage in an ever changing world'.

Specialist Suppliers, Dealers & Auctioneers

Barnebys

Barnebys – All auctions in one place!

This is a great site that brings salesroom and online auctions together in an easy-to use website. It's simple to search across many auction houses for specific items and themes.

Bonhams

International auctioneers Bonhams hold a series of Collectors Auctions including two specialist marine sales per year.

Charles Miller Ltd.

Independent auction house specialising in Maritime Models, Instruments and Collectables.

Christie's

International auctioneers Christies hold a series of Auctions in various countries and locations through out the year. They also hold valuation days and have an online auction estimate facility.

Indian Ocean Books, Maps and Prints

Indian Ocean Books, Maps, and Prints specializes in used and antiquarian materials from and about Indian Ocean islands and the countries of the Indian Ocean Rim.

McLaren Books

Scotland's foremost maritime book dealers, selling books on maritime history, shipping, marine science, yachting, boating and leisure amongst other maritime genres.

Associated Companies

DP World

DP World is the third largest marine terminal operators in the world, with 50 terminals and 11 new developments across 31 countries. DP World acquired P&O in March 2006 and continues to take pride in preserving and maintaining the P&O Heritage Collection.