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

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Türkiye (Ratification: 2005)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 2(1) of the Convention. Issuance of seafarers’ identity documents. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in accordance with section 20 of the Passport Act No. 5682, seafarers’ identity documents designed for crew members who are nationals on board Turkish ships sailing out of the territorial sea have the same effect as a passport when validated by the General Directorate for Security of the Ministry of Interior, and are used in lieu of a passport in international maritime navigation at arrival and departure points. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether seafarers are able to apply by themselves for a seafarer’s identity document.

Article 3. Retention of seafarer’s identity document by the seafarer. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the seafarer’s identity document remains in the seafarer’s possession at all times.

Article 4(1), (2), (3) and (5). Form and content of the seafarer’s identity document. The Committee notes that the specimen of the seafarer’s identity document, which was supposed to have been appended to the Government’s report, has not been received by the Office. The Committee requests the Government to transmit a specimen of an up to date seafarer’s identity document, and to specify whether the validity is clearly indicated in it.

Article 4(6). Consultations with organizations concerned. The Committee notes that the Government does not give details on the consultations held, especially concerning the revision of the old seafarer’s identity document. The Committee requests the Government to provide details on the consultations held pursuant to this provision of the Convention, especially concerning the revision of the old seafarer’s identity document.

Article 5(1) and (2). Re-admission to territory. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide information on the seafarer’s right to re-admission to Turkish territory. The Committee, therefore, requests the Government to indicate whether any seafarer who holds a valid Turkish seafarer’s identity document is entitled to return to Turkey (Article 5(1) of the Convention). It also requests the Government to indicate whether the seafarer who holds a Turkish seafarer’s identity document is re-admitted, in accordance with Article 5(2) of the Convention to Turkish territory during a period of at least one year after any date of expiry indicated in the seafarer’s identity document.

Article 6(2). Entry into territory. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that seafarers from countries requiring a visa for Turkey need to provide supporting evidence when they request entry into the Turkish territory for the purposes indicated in this provision of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the national legislation or any other measures which ensure that a seafarer holding a valid seafarer’s identity document containing space for appropriate entries is permitted to enter the Turkish territory for the purpose of: (a) joining his/her ship or transferring to another ship; (b) passing in transit to join his/her ship in another country or for repatriation; or (c) any other purpose approved by the competent authorities, as required by this provision of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee requests the Government to provide a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including, for instance, information concerning the number of seafarers’ identity documents issued and any difficulties encountered in the application of the Convention.