The Naval Dockyards Society was founded in 1996 with the objectives of increasing public awareness of historic dockyards and related sites and activities; increasing access to historic dockyards and related sites; monitoring proposed developments at such sites; creating links with related bodies in Britain and abroad; coordinating, promoting and publishing new research; offering assistance to those establishing dockyard heritage sites and acting as an international forum for those interested in these themes.

The Society is concerned with, and publishes material on: naval dockyards and associated activities, including victualling, medicine, ordnance, shipbuilding, shipbreaking, provisions and supplies; all aspects of their construction, history, archaeology, conservation, workforce, surrounding communities and family history; all aspects of their buildings, structures and monuments relating to naval history. The Society is therefore involved closely in the terrestrial and underwater heritage of all these sites.

The NDS has links with many other societies interested in maritime history such as the Navy Records Society

Navy Records Society

The Navy Records Society was established in 1893 as a scholarly society to publish historical documents that illustrated the history of the Royal Navy. Professor Sir John Knox Laughton and Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge were the key leaders who organized the Society, basing it on the model of earlier...

; The Society for Nautical Research

Society for Nautical Research

The Society for Nautical Research was founded in 1910 to promote the academic field of maritime history in the United Kingdom.The aims of the society are to:* support and encourage research in maritime history and underwater archaeology....

; The Naval Historical Collectors & Research Association; South West Maritime History Society; The Nelson Society; The 1805 Club

1805 Club

The 1805 Club was founded in 1990 to accomplish three objectives:* To assist in the preservation of monuments and memorials relating to Vice- Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson and the seafaring people of the Georgian era....

; Newcomen Society

Newcomen Society

The Newcomen Society is a British learned society formed to foster the study of the history of engineering and technology. It was founded in London in 1920 and takes its name from Thomas Newcomen, one of the inventors associated with the early development of the steam engine, who is widely...

; The Nautical Archaeology Society and The Royal Geographical Society

Royal Geographical Society

The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...

. The Society is supported by The National Maritime Museum

National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...

 in Greenwich

Greenwich

Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...

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