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

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Latvia (Ratification: 1993)

Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention. Conditions of issuance, form and content of seafarers’ identity documents. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the provisions in Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 992 of 20 December 2005 on the seaman’s book are entirely consistent with the requirements of the Convention. It notes, in particular, that these provisions set out that the seaman’s book: has to remain in the seafarer’s custody (section 2), is issued upon duly submitted application by the seafarer (section 13), is valid for ten years, or five years upon a seafarer’s initial receipt (section 18), contains all the particulars required by the Convention (section 5) and even reproduces the text of Article 6 of the Convention on page 32 (specimen in Annex I of the Regulation).

Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government concerning the number of seaman’s books delivered from May 2005 to May 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 inspection reports showing the number and nature of any infringements and any difficulties encountered in the application of the Convention.

Finally, the Committee takes this opportunity to recall that Convention No. 108 has been revised by the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185). 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 therefore invites the Government to examine the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 185 in the near future and to keep the Office informed of any decisions taken in this respect.