The Office for Maritime Affairs or the Office for the Supervision of Navigation was founded in 1745, at the time of a new increase of maritime affairs in the Dubrovnik Republic. It appears in archival sources under different following names: Officio della Navigazione, Officio alla Sopraintendenza della Navigazione, Sopraintendenza della Navigazione, Officio della Marina, Magistrato alla Navigazione. The office was managed by five senators, the so-called Officiali alla Sopraintendenza della Navigazione, who were initially elected for a mandate of five years, and from the 80s of the 18th centuries, for a term of office of three years. This office supervised the entire maritime affairs of the Dubrovnik Republic and was, among other things, in charge to conduct investigations and trials in various maritime disputes in which Ragusan sea captains were involved, or was also in charge to cooperate with the consulates of the Dubrovnik Republic in Mediterranean ports and collected maritime taxes. One volume of bills of lading dating from 1798 to 1802 was obtained from a private person (HR-DADU-56.5).