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Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (RATIFICATION: 1964)

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The Committee requested the Government to provide its comments in relation to the observations submitted by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and its affiliate Nautilus International concerning the importance of ratifying the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended (No. 185). The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in its report, that (1) in 2019, it carried out an initial engagement with stakeholders on the possible ratification of Convention No. 185, including the UK Chamber of Shipping, representing shipowners, and Nautilus International and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, representing seafarers; (2) the responses from these three organisations gave clear support to the ratification; (3) the ratification would also create the opportunity to extend the eligibility for a UK seafarer identity document to fishers who are not eligible under the UK’s implementing legislation for Convention No. 108; (4) it has declared its intention to work over the next five years towards the ratification of Convention No. 185 in “Maritime 2050: Navigating the future”, a statement of the Government’s vision for the maritime sector published in January 2019; and (5) while the intention to make progress towards the ratification has been hindered most recently by the need to dedicate resources to addressing COVID-19 related issues, it is now fully engaged in the process.

The Committee recalls that, in the framework of the Standards Review Mechanism, the ILO Governing Body, as recommended by the Special Tripartite Committee on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006), classified Convention No. 108 as “outdated”. At its 343rd Session (November 2021), the Governing Body requested the Office to encourage Member States that are still bound by Convention No. 108 to ratify Convention No. 185. In this context, the Committee welcomes the intention of the Government, supported by social partners, to ratify Convention No. 185 and encourages it to examine the possibility to extend its application to the non-metropolitan territories still bound by Convention No. 108.

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The Committee notes the observations received on 1 September 2015, from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and its affiliate Nautilus International in which they call on the Government to ratify the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185), as it would uphold important principles in seafarers’ welfare and provide greater surety over shore leave, repatriation and transit arrangements for seafarers without the need for visas or lengthy visa application procedures. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this regard.

The Committee recalls that Article 9 of Convention No. 185 allows the provisional application of its provisions with a view to its ratification. The objective of this Article is to allow the countries party to Convention No. 108 to move forward with the adoption of the new seafarers’ identity document in order to achieve universal use and recognition of that document. The Committee notes in this regard the Government’s indication in its report that if the proposed draft amendments to Convention No. 185 are approved at the Ad Hoc Tripartite Maritime Committee meeting, scheduled for February 2016, the Government could give serious consideration to the ratification of the said Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress achieved in this respect.

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Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report indicating that a total number of 5,110 seamen’s cards had been issued in the period June 2005 to January 2010. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply up-to-date information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance, statistical information on the number of seafarers’ identity documents issued during the reporting period, extracts from reports of the services entrusted with the enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations and any difficulties encountered in the application of the Convention.

The Committee also takes this opportunity to recall that the Convention has been revised by the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185), which was adopted by the ILO to enhance port and border security, while at the same time facilitating the seafarers’ right to shore leave, by developing a more secure and globally uniform seafarers’ identity document. In fact, Convention No. 185 complements actions taken within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the adoption of the International Ship and Port-facility Security Code (ISPS), sets out basic parameters regarding the content and form of the documents, and provides technical guidance in the annexes in order to ensure that Members may easily adapt their systems while taking national circumstances into account. In this respect, the Committee wishes to refer to the summary of consensus achieved at the consultative meeting on Convention No. 185, held in Geneva on
23–24 September 2010, according to which “further ratifications and recognition of the seafarers’ identity document (SID) to facilitate shore leave are urgently needed, especially among port States” (see CSID/C.185/2010/4, p. 17). The Committee therefore invites the Government to consider the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 185 in the near future and to keep the Office informed of any decisions taken in this respect.

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The Committee has noted the observation of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) which objects to the cost of the identity document being borne by the seafarer, and attributes a decline in the number of revalidations to the reduction of jobs available for ratings. The Government has made no comment in this respect.