Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Slovenia (Ratification: 2003)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Article 2(1) of the Convention. Scope of application. The Committee previously requested the Government to ensure that the issuance, on personal application, of seafarers’ identity documents is provided to all Slovenian seafarers, irrespective of whether they are working on board vessels flying the Slovenian flag. It notes the Government’s reference in its report to the Decree on Seafarers’ Certificates, adopted on 27 November 2014, which defines the requirements of qualified seafarers on board ships. The Committee considers, however, that the abovementioned legislation deals with the qualification standards set out in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW) and, consequently, does not specifically address the seafarers’ identity documents. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on measures adopted aimed at bringing its national legislation into full conformity with this Article of the Convention.

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

Article 2(1) of the Convention. Scope of application. Further to its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that seafarers’ identity booklets are issued to all seafarers of Slovenian citizenship upon request. The Committee observes, however, that section 2 of the Rules on seafarers’ books (Official Gazette No. 5/2002), as last amended in 2007 (Official Gazette No. 80/2007), clearly provide for the issue of seafarers’ identity documents to seafarers serving onboard Slovenian merchant vessels. The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures in order to align the national legislation with established practice.

Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report indicating that a total number of 543 seafarers’ identity booklets had been issued in the period 2005–09. 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 reports of the services entrusted with the enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations and any difficulties encountered in the application of the Convention.

The Committee also takes the opportunity to recall that the Convention has been revised by the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185), which was adopted by the ILO to enhance port and border security, while at the same time facilitating the seafarers’ right to shore leave, by developing a more secure and globally uniform seafarers’ identity document. In fact, Convention No. 185 complements actions taken within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the adoption of the International Ship and Port-facility Security Code (ISPS), sets out basic parameters regarding the content and form of the documents and provides technical guidance in the annexes in order to ensure that Members may easily adapt their systems while taking national circumstances into account. 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 consider the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 185 in the near future and to keep the Office informed of any decisions taken in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes the Government’s report on the application of the Convention.

Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Issuance. According to section 2(1) of the Rules on Seafarers’ Books, seafarers’ books are only issued to seafarers who are Slovenian nationals and crew members of ships of the merchant marine of Slovenia. The Convention, however, provides that a Member for which this Convention is in force shall issue a seafarer’s identity document to each of its nationals who is a seafarer on application by him. The Committee thus draws to the Government’s attention that, under the Convention, the issuance of seafarers’ identity documents is not limited to engagement on national ships or vessels of a particular flag. The Committee, therefore, requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that national legislation implementing the Convention provides for the issuance, on personal application, of seafarers’ identity documents to all Slovenian seafarers, regardless as to whether they are working on board vessels flying the Slovenian flag.

Article 5, paragraph 2. Re-admission. Section 153 of the Maritime Code provides that a seafarer’s book may, inter alia, be used by the crew member as a document for foreign travel in order to return to Slovenia after disembarking from a ship abroad. The Committee understands that a seafarer holding a valid seafarer’s book issued by the competent Slovenian authority would be re-admitted to Slovenia. It asks the Government, however, to indicate whether a seafarer holding a valid seafarer’s book issued by the competent Slovenian authority would also be re‑admitted to Slovenia during a period of at least one year after the date of expiry indicated in that document.

Article 6, paragraph 3. Evidence. The Government does not provide information as to whether and what evidence, including documentary evidence, is required from the seafarer, the owner or agent concerned, or from the appropriate consul, of a seafarer’s intention and of his ability to carry out that intention. Please indicate what evidence, if any, is required from a seafarer before permitting entry for the purposes of joining ship or transferring, passing in transit or any other purpose approved by the Slovenian authorities (Article 6, paragraph 2).