Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended (No. 185) - Georgia (Ratification: 2015)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention. The Committee notes the efforts undertaken by the Government to give effect to the requirements of the Convention. It also notes that the 2016 amendments to the Annexes of the Convention entered into force for Georgia on 8 June 2017. The Committee recalls that these amendments aim at aligning the technical requirements of the Convention with the latest standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with respect to the technology for seafarers’ identity documents (SIDs) provided for in the Convention. In particular, they intend to change the biometric template in SIDs from a fingerprint template in a two-dimensional barcode to a facial image stored in a contactless chip as required by ICAO Document 9303.

Articles 3–5 of the Convention. Seafarers’ identity documents. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that the Seaman’s Book contains the two-dimensional barcode in accordance with the previous version of the Convention, and that the 2016 amendments to the annexes of the Convention have not been implemented yet. The Government also indicates that it plans to implement the new format of Seaman’s Book with a contactless integrated circuit in conformity with ICAO Document 9303 by 2020. The Committee observes that the Seaman’s Book, as regulated under Order N001 of the Director of the Maritime Transport Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of 16 January 2012 on “Rules on Form, Production, Issuing and Usage of Seaman’s Book” (hereinafter, Order N001). The Committee notes that Order N001 does not fully comply with the requirements of Articles 3–5 of the amended version of the Convention. Noting that a new format of Seaman’s Book will be implemented in 2020, the Committee requests the Government to ensure in this context that the new SIDs is fully compliant with the requirements of Articles 3–5 of the Convention and Annexes I-III, as amended in 2016, and to supply a copy of the relevant legislation.

Article 7(1). Continuous possession. Noting the absence of information in this regard, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure compliance with Article 7(1) of the Convention according to which the SID shall remain in the seafarer’s possession at all times, except when it is held for safekeeping by the master of the ship concerned, with the seafarer’s written consent.