Kenya to Issue Seafarers Identify Document

By Mwakwaya Raymond

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Kenya seafarers are set to receive the prestigious identity document crucial in allowing them to operate globally without restrictions.

Through President William Samoei Ruto direction, the Department of Immigration will issue the SID ( Seafarers Identify Document) to facilitate the seafarers’ movement in the maritime industry.

Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) secretary general Atie Swaleh Ramadan says the issuance of the SID is set to begin ‘soon’.

According to her the government has requested for submission of her members’ database to the immigration department for action. 

“Since independence no seafarer in the country has ever been issued with the SID.”

This has happened due to the intervention of the Council of Trade Union (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli. 

Sources indicate that Atwoli was instrumental to the President’s acceptance to issue the SIDs to Kenyan seafarers.

Globally, the document is required by the International Transport Works Federation (ITF) to enable seafarers access all the benefits of member states within the industry.

According to the Maritime Wages Council chairman Mwinyi Jahazi the SID’s benefits range from shore leave of not less than three days to a luggage discount which allows members to carry with them 50Kg at a time to many other lucrative offers.

“If a seafarer has obtained the SID he does not need a visa to sail from one country to the other leave alone accessing bank facility with ease. It’s a very viable document.”

The International Labor Organization ILO Convention No. 185, formally titled the “Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention, 2003,” came into force on September 9, 2005. This convention, adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO), establishes standards for seafarers’ identity documents.

It[s main aim is to facilitate the movement of seafarers across borders and enhance their security by ensuring that the identity documents are internationally recognized and tamper-proof.

ILO Convention 185 a revision of of ILO Convention 108 adopted in 1958 to established an International structure of of recognition of national Seafarers ‘ Identity document.

Meanwhile, COTU has agreed to collaborate with SUK to enhance its viability through building its capacity on matters trade union.

The umbrella body has also pledged to oversee the operationalisation of the Seaferers’ Wages Council which currently is on its knees. 

The move, according to Jahazi, will help stop rogue shipowners as well as unscrupulous agencies who take advantage of unidentified seafarers to fleece them their hard earned dollars.

Other goodies in the basket for SUK is being equipped with new offices recently acquired at Ganjoni area of Mombasa County that will ensure its operations are conducted without interferences.

“There was no clear handing over with the previous office bearers so nothing was surrendered to the new team.”

This boost has since jolted SUK into action of initiating a major recruitment drive for any willing seafarers to join the union.

“Apart from targeting seafarers who are yet to formalize their membership will have to do so to benefit from the issuance of SIDs.”

Currently, the union has more than 4,000 registered members who are scattered across the globe maritime industry.