The contents of an OLB include Front cover Ships particulars, masters particulars, owners / managers name and address, date and place of opening and closing of OLB, received by Registrar Shipping and Seamen (RSS). Other pages include:
| 2 – 7 | Record of seaman employed in the ship. |
| 8 – 9 | Returns and entries of births and deaths. |
| 10 – 14 | Record of musters, boat & fire drills, training of crew, inspection of LSA & FFA as required by MS Act 1894 to 1979. |
| 15 – 17 | Record of test drills and inspection of ships steering gear. |
| 19 – 23 | Crew accommodation inspection carried out under Regulation35 of the MS (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1997. |
| 24 – 28 | Record of inspection carried out in accordance with ILO Convention No. 68 of 1946 of supplies of food and water provided for the crew. |
| 29 | Load line and depth of loading. MS (Load Line) Regulations 1998 provides that these entries shall be made before any other in the OLB. Some vessels are exempted. |
| 30 – 39 | Dates of departure from and arrival at docks, wharves and harbours with draughts of water and freeboard upon every occasion of ship proceeding to sea. |
| 40 – 76 | Official log narrative pages. Date & hour of occurrence, place, or position by Lat. & Long. Date of entry. Entries should be made under the OLB regulations, and under Section 77 of the MSA 1995. |
Enclosed entry space drill must be done every two months as a minimum.
OLB entry regulations – who does what:
| PARA | ENTRY | WHERE RECORDED | WITNESSED |
| 1 | Ships name | Front cover | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed |
| 2 | Owners name & address | Front cover | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed |
| 3 | Masters name & Cert. No. | Front cover | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed |
| 4 | Documents handed over | Narrative section | Made and signed by Master in person. Not witnessed |
| 5 | OLB opened date/place | Front cover | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed |
| 6 | OLB closed date/place | Front cover | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed |
| 7 | Departures & Arrivals | Special page & AFS forms | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by a certificated officer. |
| 8 | Sailing short handed (Deck officer.) | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed |
| 9 | Sailing short handed (Engineer officer.) | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed |
| 10 | Musters/drills/ training held | Special page | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member |
| 11 | Musters/drills not held | Special page | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 12 | Accidents | Narrative section or annexed accident log | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 13 | Distress incidents | Narrative section or annexed radio log | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 14 | Reason for not going to assistance | Narrative section or annexed radio log | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member |
| 15 | Wages dispute | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. An entry may be made by the marine Superintendant, not witnessed. |
| 16 | Discharges of crew | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 18 | Crew left behind | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 20 | Property of crew left behind | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 21 | Accommodation inspection | Special page | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 22 | Provisions & water inspection | Special page | Any authorised person, not witnessed. |
| 24 | Pilot hoist, test & inspection NO LONGER LEGAL | Special page | Any authorised person, not witnessed. |
| 25 | Steering gear drill, checks, tests | Special page plus annexed sheet | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by a certificated officer. |
| 26 | Complaints food & water | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by the complainant crew member. |
| 28 | Officer misconduct | Narrative section | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by a certificated officer, other than the officer reported |
| 29 | Re rating of crew | Narrative section | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by crew member, other than the crew member reported |
| 30 | Code of conduct breaches | Narrative section | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by crew member other than crew member in the report |
| 31 | Convictions of crew | Narrative section | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by crew member |
| 32 | Prosecution of crew advised | Narrative section | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by crew member, other than the crew member in question |
| 34 | Births | Special page | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by Mother |
| 35 | Deaths | Special page | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by crew member |
| 36 | Deceased seaman’s property | Narrative section | Made and signed by Master in person. Witnessed by crew member |
| 37 | Death inquiries | Narrative section | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by a certificated officer. Signed by a marine Superintendant but not witnessed. |
| 38 | Illness & injuries | Narrative (or annexed medical log) | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Signed by a medical Doctor. Witnessed by crew member. |
| 43 | Load line/draught | Special pages | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Not witnessed. |
| 44 | Departure draught/freeboardNon passenger | Special pages plus annexedAFS forms | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by a certificated officer |
| 45 | W/T doors (hull) | LOG 2/82 | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by a certificated officer |
| 46 | W/T doors (bulkheads) | LOG 2/82 | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by a certificated officer |
| 47 | Draught/trim/vertical distance | AFS/RO/89 annexed | Signed by master but the entry may be made by deputy. Witnessed by a certificated officer |