Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Ireland (Ratification: 1961)

Articles 2 and 4 of the Convention. Form and content of seafarers’ identity documents. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Mercantile Marine Office of the Department of Transport is now the responsible authority for the issuance of the seafarers’ identity document and ensures compliance with the Convention. It also notes the Marine Notice No. 29 of 2009 on new application procedures for an Irish seafarer’s identity card and/or Irish seafarer’s discharge book, in particular the possibility, henceforth, to issue such documents to Irish citizens who are students of the National Maritime College of Ireland, prior to an offer of employment being received. The Committee further notes the sample copy of the 2010 version of the seafarer’s identity card provided by the Government, which contains additional security features. However, the Government’s attention is drawn to the fact that this specimen copy specifies the date but not the place of issue, as required by Article 4(2) of the Convention.

Article 6. Facilitation of shore leave, transit or transfer. In the absence of recent information on implementing legislation, the Committee requests the Government to specify the legal provisions which guarantee the right of a foreign seafarer holding a valid seafarer’s identity card to shore leave while the ship is in port or to enter Ireland for the purpose of joining a ship or transferring to another ship. The Committee recalls, in this connection, that the Government, at the time of ratification, had referred to the Aliens Order, 1946, as an instrument implementing this provision. It accordingly requests the Government to indicate whether that Order is still in force.

Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the statistical information on the number of seafarers’ identity cards issued in 2009. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply up-to-date information in its future reports on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including, for example, statistical information and extracts from reports of the services entrusted with the application of the relevant laws and regulations.

Finally, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that it hopes to be in a position to ratify the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185), in the near future. Convention No. 185 aims to enhance port and border security while at the same time facilitating the freedom of movement of seafarers by developing a more secure and globally uniform seafarers’ identity document. The Convention was adopted by the ILO to complement action being taken within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the adoption of the International Ship and Port-facility Security Code (ISPS). 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 requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any further developments regarding the ratification of Convention No. 185.