The Department of Marine Administration (DMA) will issue smart identity cards to Myanmar seafarers, instead of SID Booklets and temporary documents, from 7 August, said U Hein Htet Soe, the Director of the Seamen Employment Control Division (SECD) under the DMA.

He made the remarks at the Key Ceremony held on 6 August at the DMA office in Dawbon Township.

The smart cards will be issued in accordance with the ILO Convention C-185, and those wishing to get the cards will have to make an appointment online. Smart cards will be issued to 100-1,500 seafarers per day, he added.

“We will issue the cards to every seafarer. The cards will be valid for 5 years. Seafarers who are holding SID booklets will have to exchange their booklets for smart cards. The cards will be issued beginning 7 August,” said U Hein Htet Soe.

While the SID Booklets cost K25,000, the new cards will cost only K12,000. Seafarers who are holding SID booklets and temporary documents can continue to hold them until they expire, it has been learnt.

The 1958 Seafarer’s Identity Documents (SID) Convention was amended at the ILO conference held on 3 June, 2003. Although Myanmar has not signed the convection, it began issuing SID Booklets, in accordance with the convention, on 22 May, 2004.

“We need to take back the books so that they can apply for the new cards. The seafarers will have to fill up a form for making an appointment. When they receive a date and come to get the cards, they will have to show the booking number. Then, they will have to fill up another form. After that, they will have to produce the form and their passport at the card issuing counter. After undergoing the scrutinizing process with the authorities concerned, they will have to deposit the fee. They will have to do finger printing for providing their bio data. This process will take three days,” said U Hein Htet Soe.

In accordance with the Seafarer’s Identity Documents Convention 185 (Revised) 2003, the ILO Director-General handed over the original memorandum to the Myanmar representative on 16 January, 2018. Then, they signed the record of deposit and the instrument of ratification.

The issuing of SID books has been stopped since September, 2017. Instead of books, seafarers have since been issued only documentation papers.

The smart identity cards for seafarers involve international security system, said U Min Thu, the GM of Omnitech Company Limited.

To issue the smart cards, the authorities had invited tenders in 2017, and selected the Omnitech Company Limited for the project. Currently, there are about 60,000 seafarers working on board ocean liners. The SECD under the DMA has issued registration books with 10-year validity to those seafarers.

By Aye Yamone(Translated by Hay Mar)