Linking official numbers across
jurisdictions
(revised 14 March 2004)
Even though it
is rare for a ship to have more than one official number within the same jurisdiction,
any ship re-registered under another jurisdiction operating an official number
system at the time would be issued a new number under the new jurisdiction and
required by law to use it. The American restrictions on the registration of
vessels not built in the
In order to combine information from multiple national sources concerning the vessel it is necessary to provide some means of linking the references. This may eventually be achieved through a system of global unique ship identifiers but it could also be achieved through some form of translation procedure which may be sufficient in itself or else a stepping stone to compiling unique identifiers – either way, the work needs to be done.
To explore the practicality of developing an official numbers translation file I set myself the task of seeing what I could generate in a day with my own personal collection of resources and a library set of Lloyd’s Register. It didn’t work quite like that of course as it raised so many questions and tantalising tangents but - some time later - I think I have a good idea of the practicality.
At least up to WWI, it looks to be mostly a case of translation between American and British official numbers as the great majority of ships up to that time that had official numbers were American or British. Significant numbers of Swedish ships with official numbers specific to that nation, are in the 1912 and earlier Lloyd’s Registers along with lesser numbers of Hawaiian and Japanese ships. (Lloyd’s Register includes very few Japanese sailing ships. It lists a few in the 1890’s, then in the early 1900’s raised the criterion for including them to 300 tons and then around 1912, as a matter of policy, ceased to include any at all. Linking Japanese with British, and American official numbers may be an issue for Steam however.)
A significant number of Italian ships, some Chilean ships, and ships belonging to some of the dominions of the Czar of Russia have registration numbers shown as official numbers in Lloyd's Register in the period to WWI but it appears that these are specific to the port rather than the nation and a ship may have had several under that national flag. These port numbers doubtless have some value as identifiers but limited value, as far as I can see, as identifiers for the purposes of global research and analysis.
I therefore limited myself to following up the Swedish and Hawaiian official numbers for sailing ships in addition to the two leading maritime nations but without seeking original material from primary sources. I have not investigated Japanese and Swedish official numbers for steam ships.
Lloyd’s Register readily
enough indicated ships currently registered under the other flags that had been
built in
The LMVUS from 1891 to 1923 and probably also for more years either side, indicates previously foreign-registered ships in a form that is very easily spotted and that distinguishes which were of which nationality. It did not prove particularly difficult to identify the British official numbers of most of these from the MNL or Lloyd's Register, with some help from other sources given my limited immediate access to the MNL.
In a small
minority of cases it is uncertain, using these sources, whether particular
ships ever had British official numbers, even though built in
A demonstration translation table
In the following table, “?” indicates a number that could have been expected to be indicated in the secondary sources presently available to me but which was not there and would have to be sought from primary sources or other records.
Tonnage and rig are the earliest I could find using Lloyd's Register within a few years of construction, or the MNL where a suitable year was immediately available (basically 1857-1864 and five yearly intervals from 1873 to 1893) - these tonnages and rigs may well differ significantly from those quoted later in their careers.
Additional detail of place built and builder would also be useful identifying information in a working data file for regular general use. Information on the ship's eventual fate would neatly round off the basic record of its existence but would be better provided and sought from an independent file of fates linked by official number.
Some Hawaiian
official numbers have also been included as they often form a bridge between
British construction (and possible British registration) and later
from documentation to engage in coastwise trade (www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy/research_topics/vessel_documents.html ).
An item in Log Chips (Vol. III, January 1955, pp
137-38) about how the Balclutha came under
The record of pre-1867 American signal codes was also investigated. A number of larger ships with distinctive names built in the 1850's were identified from the 1893 LMVUS and easily identified in the 1860-64 signal codes lists, indicating that the sequential numbers in that could be linked to the later official numbers series if useful to do so. However, doing so would only be useful for global referencing purposes if they provided reference numbers for a significant number of ships that did not survive to 1867 which is a matter for investigation.
A table of this type could have a further column or columns added for GSN and/or some other numerical identifier specific to a particular database. However, it need not necessarily be essential to compile a complete file in this format for users to take advantage of official number linking given the potential of computers to search multiple files about as quickly as one can think of directing them to do so. While there are obvious advantages in a "one-stop-shop", you can still do a lot with partially complete databases, you are better off than if you do not use them at all and people using them in such a way would be an effective means of promoting awareness of the practice and its advantages pending the progressive amalgamation of data files.
The principal starting points for developing a substantial official number-linking resource would be for one or more people to work through the LMVUS identifying the formerly British-registered ships and a parallel exercise with the Mercantile Navy List identifying formerly American-registered ships. The outcomes then need to be matched against relevant volumes of the other series to identify the original official number under the other jurisdiction. Access to long runs of either publication is the main requirement. I invite anyone with the necessary access and interest in working on either aspect to consult with me regarding common data protocols and avoiding duplication.
The original official numbers can often be identified from earlier volumes of Lloyd's Register back to 1872 particularly for larger ships but smaller ships and the Lloyd's omissions will generally have to be sought from the Mercantile Navy List or primary sources. The computerisation of the LMVUS by the International Maritime Library project may obviate the need to work through the printed copies of the LMVUS, depending on how the information is transcribed.
The Mercantile Navy List from c.1872 to at least 1893 identifies former foreign-registered ships under current British registration and so can be used in a similar way to the LMVUS to identify candidates for earlier registration under US jurisdiction. However, it identifies them only as “Foreign” (whereas the LMVUS specifies the nation) although the place of build and the language of the name should be a fairly reliable clue to the former nationality.
Pending the
eventual development of a complete official numbers translation table, separate
tables of either
Whether it is worthwhile for American and British researchers to actively pursue linking to Swedish and Japanese official numbers depends on whether there are any substantial historical databases of Swedish and Japanese ships to be linked to, or likely to be. I am not aware of any that are generally available to the international research community. I would be grateful to have any drawn to my attention.
Key to the table
ON(Br) British official
number
ON(
Swe. Swedish official number in the
1890-1912 period
Haw. Hawaiian official number in “new” series to
1900
BYR Year built
BPL Place built. CAN =
to the contrary.
RIG as far as possible the
original rig. bk = bark/barque, bn
= brigantine, sch. = schooner, (3) (4) = 3 or 4
masted.
4m = 4-masted
ship or 4-masted barque as the vexed question of their true original rig is
unimportant for the
present
purpose.
NET as far as possible the
earliest recorded. Tonnages are net following the British practice but in a
working model
it would be desirable to also recognise the American
usage of gross.
NAME Original name given first in bold followed by later names, not necessarily all names; generally in chronological order
Caution: The table has been compiled for
demonstration purposes and no claim of completeness or finality is made
although
considerable
checking has been done and it contains some corrections to material on other
maritime web sites. In any case of doubt
refer to primary
sources.
ON(Br) ON(
1860-64
70976 .. .. ? .. 1875
Ida
.. 228431 .. ? .. 1912 Swe. steel ship 193 Abraham Rydberg
Seven Seas
65953 105916 .. .. .. 1872
Annie Johnson
war prize 25 .. .. .. ? Brit. wood sch ?
? 107545 .. .. 307 1892
? 107546 .. .. 283 1888
85112 .. .. ? .. 1882
Canna, Belleisle
62078 .. .. 1340 .. 1869
Hedvig
47442 .. .. ? .. 1863
Barunga
62880 .. .. 3824 .. 1876
Haminga
74535 107139 .. .. .. 1876
.. 833 593 .. .. 1855
62506 .. .. 3339 .. 1869
Herrang 7, Sten
93319 214473 .. .. .. 1886
Elisa Lihn, Phyllis
99423 215219 .. .. .. 1892
Dalbek, Red Jacket, Monongahela
93340 3882 .. .. .. 1886
Star
of
91935 3748 .. .. .. 1886
52853 .. .. 3886 .. 1868
Emma Bauer, Anders
102629 107429 .. .. .. 1893
Star
of
58974 .. ..
354 .. 1866
93809 215372 .. .. .. 1888
Bertha,
Flying Cloud,
Muscoota
91179 214312 .. .. .. 1885
Electa [sic]
76168 .. .. 55 .. 1877
Lady Lina
87979 215063 .. .. .. 1884
James Rolph
90505 201886 .. .. .. 1885 CAN wood ship 1,754 Charles
S. Whitney
Lewis H. St John
58548 .. .. 5388 .. 1868
Tomaso Drago, Janes,
Diego
55066 .. .. 3304 .. 1867
Dunnerdale, Cimbria
84317 .. .. 4065 .. 1881
44467 .. ..
292 .. 1862
Anna Sofia,
Emil Justus
56780 .. .. 1086 .. 1866
Nelly & Matilda
84857 127214 .. .. .. 1881
78439 .. .. 2960 .. 1869
93380 213896 .. .. .. 1887
Katherine
78821 201638 .. .. .. 1878
138399 238111 .. .. .. 1917 CAN wood sch 292 Daniel Getson
Wanderthirst
? 157043 .. .. .. 1864
30632 .. .. 3282 .. 1864
82301 .. .. 3141 .. 1880
85648 157121 .. .. .. 1883 CAN wood sch 85 Druid
98965 213023 .. .. .. 1891
77778 135898 .. .. .. 1874 CAN wood bk 290
78726 697285 .. 5348 .. 1877
Fjeld, Gustaf
.. 7563 4749 .. .. 1855
47617 136801 .. .. .. 1863
Star
of
75730 3707 .. .. .. 1878 CAN wood ship 1,680 Everest,
74521 .. .. 5667 .. 1876
Antilope, Argo
80436 121138 .. .. .. 1878
? 215218 .. .. .. 1892
? 121139 .. .. 285 1888
121397 121149 .. .. .. 1900
87748 121140 .. .. x337 1884
27932 .. .. 323 .. 1855 Fr. iron steam 1,932 Francois Arago (steam)
130321 120710 .. .. .. 1888
? .. .. 5194 .. 1876
54765 157574 .. .. 325 1866
42843 105074 .. .. .. 1862 CAN wood sch 77 George
Parker,
Amirald
50084 .. .. 3305 .. 1864
60786 200647 .. .. .. 1868
? 218024 .. .. .. 1891
? .. ..
330 .. 1891
58240 .. ..
215 .. 1868
?
96496 .. .. 306 1892
Star
of
?
96499 .. .. 309 1891
86724 130863 .. .. 336 1882
Nuaanu
48594
96501 .. .. x339 1863
Star
of
98689 212573 .. .. .. 1892
Annie M. Reid
.. 13118 9640 .. .. 1856
57726 .. .. 505 .. 1869 CAN wood bk 472 James Ives
Jacob Rauers
28835 .. .. 4094 .. 1860
Nanny, Trichera
60373 136621 .. .. .. 1868
E. C. Mowatt
45076 .. ..
612 .. 1862
Nornan
?
77417 .. .. 305 1892
93719
14494 .. .. .. 1887
Star
of
86717
92827 .. .. .. 1882
Marion Chilcott
58939 127343 .. .. .. 1868
Star of Chili/Chile
77951 34140 .. .. .. 1878 CAN ? ship 1,655 Lawrence Delap
Coal King
60702 .. .. 3985 .. 1870
Edwardina
77848 136070 .. .. .. 1880 CAN wood sch 61 Libbie T.
Egg Rock
85595 107124 .. .. .. 1883 CAN wood sch 79 Lilloet, Amanda E.
60030 .. .. 3005 .. 1867
?59118 136289 .. .. .. 1866 CAN wood sch 28 Linnet, Echo
76358 .. .. 1531 .. 1876
P. Wikstrom Junior
70495 .. .. 4034 .. 1875
Trifolium
93830 213770 .. .. .. 1888
86540 212603 .. .. .. 1883
E. R. Sterling
58942 .. .. 3279 .. 1868
28044 111176 .. .. .. 1860
Sharpshooter, Ruth
152386 232862 .. .. .. 1927 CAN wood sch 35 Maritzburg
Carlsark
70447 .. .. 1614 .. 1876
Hildur
72201 3351 .. .. .. 1874 CAN wood sch 96 Mary Theall, Bat
55466 .. .. 2907 .. 1868
26194 .. ..
402 .. 1859
Celine
100831 107252 .. .. .. 1893 CAN wood sch 74 Nantasket
Arthur R. Smith
92497 130822 .. .. .. 1888 CAN wood sch(3) 504
47369
93039 .. .. 290 1863
63200 .. .. 3315 .. 1869
Elsa,
Virgen
48833 .. .. 3746 .. 1864
Venner, Trientalis
96755 107335 .. .. .. 1889 CAN wood sch 54
68138 157419 .. .. .. 1873
82815
92621 .. .. .. 1880
May
55538 .. .. 3254 .. 1868 CAN wood bk 628 Peter Crerar
Theodor
104594 .. .. 3096 .. 1894
Friz Smith, Ekelund
98670 201689 .. .. .. 1891
Manga Reva
? 111287 .. .. 304 1892
55054 .. .. 2857 .. 1867
48930 .. ..
194 .. 1864
Valentine
98300 215868 .. .. .. 1891
William T. Lewis
29139 .. ..
235 .. 1860
Emilie
73738 .. .. 4100 .. 1876
Alfhild
69330 111289 .. .. 327 1873
81812 .. .. 4514 .. 1881
Svithoid, Beatrice
60940 .. .. 3756 .. 1869
61466 157577 .. .. .. 1869 CAN wood ship 940
Davidson
28288 .. .. 4394 .. 1861
Charlonus, Hanna
91189 116973 .. .. 318 1885
72334 3494 .. .. .. 1878 CAN wood sch 117 Sarah
Bessie H. Gross
? 125416 .. .. .. 1873 CAN wood sch ? Sea Lion
Charles W. Morse
74469 .. .. 3104 .. 1875
Mary Augusta
97766 214319 .. .. .. 1890
63957 116974 .. .. .. 1874
78105 116975 .. .. .. 1877
78103 116976 .. .. x342 1877
63958 116977 .. .. .. 1874
? .. .. 3910 .. 1892
Tropic
55027
81350 .. .. .. 1866
67941 .. .. 3224 .. 1874
56962 ? .. .. 323 1876
Iolani
.. 26463 20464 .. .. 1852
3214
81699 .. .. ? 1896
Star
of
60969 .. .. 4079 .. 1869
Kaleva
91235 96621 .. .. .. 1885
Homeward Bound,
Star of
NB: Only American ships should have official numbers in the 200,000-299,999 range but all jurisdictions issued numbers below that range.
LR/IMO numbers: As far as I know, only the Elissa survived to carry a LR/IMO number. It is 5072060. I couldn’t find one for Star of India ex Euterpe.
Acknowledgment: The Hawaiian official numbers preceded by a x were sourced from Thomas (1982) as referenced in the text. Other Hawaiian numbers are from Lloyd’s Register (but checked against Thomas).
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