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Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (RATIFICATION: 1964)

The Committee notes the observations received on 1 September 2015, from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and its affiliate Nautilus International in which they call on the Government to ratify the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185), as it would uphold important principles in seafarers’ welfare and provide greater surety over shore leave, repatriation and transit arrangements for seafarers without the need for visas or lengthy visa application procedures. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this regard.

The Committee recalls that Article 9 of Convention No. 185 allows the provisional application of its provisions with a view to its ratification. The objective of this Article is to allow the countries party to Convention No. 108 to move forward with the adoption of the new seafarers’ identity document in order to achieve universal use and recognition of that document. The Committee notes in this regard the Government’s indication in its report that if the proposed draft amendments to Convention No. 185 are approved at the Ad Hoc Tripartite Maritime Committee meeting, scheduled for February 2016, the Government could give serious consideration to the ratification of the said Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress achieved in this respect.