Liberian Registry

INTERTANKO

ASSOCIATES COMMITTEE MEETING

March 29, 2006

Seafarer CertificationSeafarer Certification• Responsible for evaluating seafarer competency and Responsible for evaluating seafarer competency and

issuing Liberian documentsissuing Liberian documents to approximately 500,000 approximately 500,000 active seafarers from every corner of the globeactive seafarers from every corner of the globe

- Seaman’s Identification Books- Seaman’s Identification Books

- Special Qualifications- Special Qualifications

- Certificates of Competency (Licenses)Certificates of Competency (Licenses)

• Training Center and Course ApprovalTraining Center and Course Approval

• Document Fraud Detection and Prevention Document Fraud Detection and Prevention Evaluation of applicant competency - maintain contacts with other Governments for verification of documents

Role of Seafarer Certification

• Responsible for issuing Liberian seafarer documents worldwide–Seaman’s Identification Books–Special Qualifications–Certificates of competency (Licenses)

• Evaluation of applicant competency

• Fraud prevention–Maintain contacts with other Governments for verification of documents

Issued Documents• Over 25-30,000 Seaman’s Books• Over 15-20,000 Officer Licenses

–By direct endorsement or exam

2004 - 66,436 Special Qualifications Certificates–Ratings, Tankerman, Basic Safety, etc…

• Electronic and paper records maintained locally on all seafarers–Photos of each seafarer–Copies of passports–Copies of national and training certificates

Liberian Identity Document

• Seaman’s Identification and Record Book– Identifies the holder as a Seaman

– Record of sea service

– Evidence of special qualifications and training

• Issued based on holder’s national Passport– Passport must be kept by the vessel’s master

• Conforms to ILO Convention 108– All Liberian documents centrally issued

Liberian Identity DocumentLiberian Identity Document• Seaman’s Identification and Record Seaman’s Identification and Record

BookBook– Identifies the holder as a SeamanIdentifies the holder as a Seaman– Record of sea serviceRecord of sea service– Evidence of special qualifications and Evidence of special qualifications and

trainingtraining

International Stakeholders• Flag State - Government of Liberia• International Maritime Organization – UN• International Labor Organization – UN• ICAO• Port State Governments – over 100 countries

– United States of America – one port state government• Department of Homeland Security

– Immigration (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services)– TSA– US Coast Guard

• State and local authorities• Port authorities• Other agencies Department of Justice – FBI, CIA

– EU States, China, etc.• Labor-Supply States• Vessel Owners• Labor unions• Seafarers

ILO ID Convention, Revised

• Document issued by the seafarer’s country

• Will contain a fingerprint template

• Will not contain:– Any hidden information– Sea Service History– Seafarer Qualifications, certificates

• It is not a passport

Issuing Authorities• Labor-Supply State – seafarer’s own country

– Numerous authorities required for verification• Possibility of incompatible biometric standards

– Some States will not issue a compliant document

– Many States not issuing Compliant passports• ICAO 9303 standard

Issuing Authorities• Flag State – country the ship is registered in

– Small number of Flags represent large percentage of vessel calls

• 12 flags represent about 75% of global tonnage(Lloyds)

– All Crewmembers holding uniform documents

– Single point for verification• Single reader for biometric data

– Current issuer of IMO (STCW) documentation• Based on positive identification of the seafarer from Passport

and verification of competency

Seaman’s Biometric Identity Card

• Seamen identity cards issued to seafarers for use in seaports, while on shore leave, and traveling to join or return home.

• The data contained in the card to be used for positive identification of the individuals as well as a certification of the seaman’s competency.

Biometric - Trial Objectives• Establish Remote Enrollment and Distribution

• Provide Verification of Card Holder & Card

• Develop Best Practices

• Prepare for full enrollment

• Combat Identity Fraud– Competency

– Training & Service

– Insurance & Medical

• Improve Security–Deter Terrorism

–Immigration

Biometric Identity Card Features

• Personal information & color photograph

• 2D barcode datastrip– Containing Photo, 2 fingerprint templates and list of

special qualifications held

• Tamper-proof security features

• Consideration of standards of:– ILO, IMO, ICAO, US Government (DOT, USCG, INS)

• Smartcard Capable

Benefits of the Card

• Identity Verification through Biometrics

• Use of fingerprint templates

• Fraud Prevention

• Identity document for the seafarer– Not held by the master– Proper identification for use on shore leave– Easy to carry (unlike a passport)

Card Features• Color photograph• Cardholder’s Personal Information• Liberian crew file number• 2D Barcode Datastrip

– Containing Photo, fingerprint template and list of special qualifications held.

– ICAO recognized format

• Ability to add Machine Readable Zone• Ability to add Java Chip• Consideration of standards of:

– ILO, IMO, ICAO– US Government (DOT, USCG, INS)

Card Design

Fingerprint Enrollment / Template

• Portable document / fingerprint scanner– Wireless Capability– Crew Identity Verified by Nautical

Inspector

– Expanded Smart Card capabilities

• Fixed Card and fingerprint scanner attached to a notebook or regular computer– Verification by various authorities– Master can verify identity at sign-on

– Training institutes can verify identity of students and record attendance

Verification Equipment

LISCR Seafarer Web Search

- Seafarer is found by entering his data in any two fields

LISCR Seafarer Web Search

SEAFARERS ELECTRONIC APPLICATION SYSTEM

SEA System is a secure computer program installed on a manning agent’s computer that enables the electronic submission of applications for seafarer documents

Benefits of SEA System

• Reduced processing time• Improved accuracy• Enhances fraud prevention• Quick to learn and easy to use• Rapid entry of data• Drop down menus of standardized choices• Direct data transfer to secure host via

Internet