Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2003, publiée 92ème session CIT (2004)

The Committee notes from the Government’s report, that the Merchant Shipping Act is currently under review and that subsequent amendments, to be enacted by means of regulations, will provide for the reintroduction of a seafarers’ identity document in accordance with the requirements of the Convention.

As the Government has noted, the issuance of travel documents for Commonwealth citizens and certificates of identity for non-Commonwealth citizens is not specific to seafarers and, therefore, these documents, as well as passports, are unrelated to the essential purpose of the Convention which is to provide a special document for seafarers to facilitate their professional movements. Moreover, the Committee must restate that the issuance of an identity document in conformity with the provisions of the Convention is an entitlement for nationals who are seafarers, and the issuance of a passport does not normally fulfil this requirement.

The Committee requests the Government to report on the advancement of the review of the Merchant Shipping Act and to advise as to when the regulations reinstating the seafarers’ identity document can be expected.