The Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 2003 (No. 185) ( Note 1) was adopted by governments, workers and employers from the ILO's member States as an instrument to strengthen security measures in the maritime transport sector in the wake of the 2001 attacks on the United States. At the same time, it is also designed to ensure the rights and freedoms of maritime workers and to facilitate mobility in the exercise of their profession - for example when they board their ships to work, take shore leave or return home.

"Ensuring the security of seafarers and the ships they work on is crucial to the continued smooth flow of world trade," said Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the ILO programme responsible for the measure.

The ILO has so far registered ratifications from France, Jordan and Nigeria. This is enough for the new Convention to come into force on February 9, 2005 ( Note 2). But the SIDs can be issued by ratifying countries as soon as the technology has been tested, before the end of this year.

Q: What is an SID, how does it work and how will it look?

A: A Seafarers' Identity Document is a stand-alone identity document, confirming that the holder is a seafarer. It is not a travel document. It may look like a small plastic national identity card or have the dimensions of a national passport, the choice is left to each country ratifying the Convention. The general form and precise content of the SID must, however, conform to a model described in the Convention. Each SID contains a bi-dimensional barcode which itself contains the representation of a biometric template of two fingerprints. The authorities concerned can compare the contents of this barcode with the fingerprints of the holder of the document to confirm his or her identity. Theses authorities can also check the authenticity of the document by referring to the issuing authority's database, directly or through a focal point.

Q: Is the SID like a passport, in electronic form?

A: The SID will be machine-readable and will contain a barcode. If any part of a SID is not also eye-readable, the holder has the right to see what it says (i.e. a machine must be available for this purpose).

Q: When are the first SIDs going to be issued and by whom?

A: SIDs are already being issued under the earlier ILO Convention (No 108) that has now been revised by Convention No. 185. The 62 member States that ratified that Convention could (as a transitional measure) immediately decide to issue the new SID with increased security features to seafarers in their countries. The three countries that have now ratified Convention No.185 (France, Jordan and Nigeria) can also do so immediately. Under the new Convention, the SID has to be issued by the country of the seafarers' nationality or permanent residence. Countries will no longer be able to issue the documents to foreign non-resident seafarers serving on their ships.

Q: Will all countries ratifying the Convention be obligated to issue SIDs?

A: They will be obligated to issue a SID to any of their nationals applying for one, as soon as the Convention enters into force for them (six months after ratification).

Q: What sort of technical work is required to issue and manage SIDs?

A: Measures need to be put in place to manufacture, keep safe custody of, personalize and issue SID's while respecting the standards contained in the Convention, its Annexes and the ILO technical biometric standard ILO SID-0002. This is essential in order to ensure that these operations are secure, e.g. to reduce the risk of fraudulent documents coming into circulation.

Q: What would happen if a major maritime country does not ratify the Convention or doesn't recognize SIDs?

A: The new SID will, on its merits alone, constitute a reliable means of identification and is the only one so far in existence at the international level. Hopefully, such a country would take this into account.

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Note 1

Note 2 - Please see press release ILO/04/37 at www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2004/37.htm.