National Historic Ships UK has published a number of guidance papers, as well as a seminal three volume series entitled Understanding Historic Vessels which provides advice on conserving, recording and deconstructing vessels.
Understanding Historic Vessels, Volume 1 - Recording Historic Vessels is available as a free PDF download. Re-published in 2020, it incorporates the latest methodology for capturing the essential characteristics of a historic vessel, including the use of digital technology. It provides a range of case study examples to draw on, helping custodians decide where to hold data they gather so it survives as a secure and permanent record.
Understanding Historic Vessels, Volume 2 - Deconstructing Historic Vessels is available as a free PDF download. Re-published in 2020, it describes the steps to be taken leading up to the careful dismantling of a historic vessel which has come to the end of its days, how to explore every option before adopting this approach and what to do with the information emerging from this process to ensure best practice is followed.
Understanding Historic Vessels, Volume 3 - Conserving Historic Vessels
This volume is only available as a printed publication and has a cover price of £30 (discounts available). It was produced in 2010 with funding support from The Headley Trust and The Society for Nautical Research. It is an invaluable, richly illustrated resource, designed to explain the key principles behind conservation, which will help specialists and non-specialists alike develop an understanding of their project, its significance and the most appropriate conservation route to adopt in each circumstance.
Readers are free to use these publications for reference, but we kindly ask that you quote the source if they are reproduced.
Copyright for all publications remains with National Historic Ships UK.
Guidance Papers
The following guidance papers have been published by NHS-UK to provide advice to historic vessel custodians on a range of topics. These are available as free PDF downloads: