Before any of the engineering department records are destroyed, the Disposal of Navy and Marine Corps Records, USN and USNS Vessels, SECNAVINST P5212.5 (revised), should be studied. This publication informs ships of the Navy of the procedures used for disposing of records. For each department aboard ship, these instructions list the permanent records which must be kept, and the temporary records which may be disposed of in accordance with an established schedule.

Both the Engineering Log and Engineers Bell Book must be preserved as permanent records on board ship for a 3-year period unless they are re-quested by a Naval Court or Board, or by the Navy Department. In such case, copies (preferably photostatic) of such sheets or parts of these records that are sent away from the ship are certified by the engineer officer as being true copies for the ships files.

At regular intervals, such as each quarter, the parts of those records that are over 3 years old are destroyed. When a ship that is less than 3 years old is decommissioned, the current books are re-tained. If a ship is scrapped, the current books are forwarded to the nearest Naval Records Management Center.

All reports forwarded to, and received from, NAVSEA or other superior command may be destroyed when 2 years old, if they are no longer required.

Only those reports which are required or serve a specified purpose should be maintained on board ship. However, any report or record which may assist personnel in scheduling or making repairs and which will supply personnel with information which is not contained in publications or manuals should also be kept on board.