IMO Set To Ratify Seafarers’ Identity Document

The tripartite meeting of the experts concerning convention 185 on Seafarers’ identity document (SID) convention will hold from 4^th to 6^th February, 2015

The convention is to enable International Maritime Organisation (IMO) member nations to ratify the document for a new standard to be acceptable to key port states.

According to the document made available to MMS Plus Weekly, the seafarers group are expected to support any agreed changes that will make the International Labour Organisation (ILO) SID compliant with the new international standard.

Engr. Mathew Alalade, the national President of Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) said the SID was necessary since it had become difficult for seafarers to get of the ship whenever they get to any port because of the delay in issuance pf shore pass.

He added that the time taken to issue shore pass to seafarers anytime they arrive the port always took longer than necessary which has made the seafarers almost like prisoners.

Alalade said, “If they have it, they can go out, they will not be like prisoners because shore pass often takes longer time to be issued.”

Explaining further, the Merchant Navy Officers National President said that the SID was like a shore pass that seafarers would have with them that would guarantee their freedom to move out of the ship and come back without having to wait for anyone to issue them with a shore passs before they can get out of the ship at any port.

The convention is expected to be attended by ship owners, seafarers and government representatives who form the tripartite stakeholders.