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Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Saint Lucia (RATIFICATION: 1980)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It expects that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2024, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

Articles 3, 5 and 6 of the Convention. Seafarers’ identity documents. The Committee recalls the Government’s earlier statement that the Convention is applied through the Shipping Act 1994 (Cap. 13.27) as last amended in 2001. The Committee notes, however, that with the exception of section 131 that deals with seafarer’s certificates of discharge, the Shipping Act does not contain any specific provisions regulating the procedure for issuing seafarer’s books. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the national laws or regulations prescribing the form and content of the seafarer’s book and giving effect to the following requirements of the Convention: seafarer’s identity document to remain in the seafarer’s possession at all times (Article 3); seafarer’s right to be readmitted to the territory of the country that issued the identity document (Article 5); and seafarer’s right to enter the territory of a country for which the Convention is in force for temporary shore leave or for the purpose of joining a ship, passing in transit to join a ship or for repatriation (Article 6). The Committee requests the Government to provide copies of any relevant texts which may not have been previously transmitted.