The collection has been divided up into seven sub-collections as follows:

C DPD/1: Humber Conservancy, c.1800-1967

C DPD/2: Hull Docks Company, 1772-1971

C DPD/3: Hull and Barnsley Railway, 1886-1917

C DPD/4: Aire and Calder Navigation, 1870-1930s

C DPD/5: Dock Engineering Records, 1827-1969

C DPD/6: Dock Estate Records, 1810-1964

C DPD/7: Commercial Department, Hull: British Transport Docks Board, 1885-1982