Ministry Of Transportation Launches E-SID Service At The Indonesian Embassy In Singapore Supports Indonesian Seafarers

Photo: Doc. Antara

The Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) officially launched the Electronic Seafarers Identity Document (e-SID) service at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Singapore to support Indonesian sailors in obtaining their rights.

Director of Shipships and Maritime Affairs of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Hendri Ginting said that Seafarers Identity Document (SID) is an official identity document specifically designed for sailors, in accordance with international standards regulated in the ILO Convention Number 185.

"This document serves to facilitate the mobility of sailors in international waters, enable easier access to ports, and ensure protection and recognition of their rights," Hendri said in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Sunday, December 1.

He stated that the Government, in this case the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, continues to be committed to improving the welfare of Indonesian sailors who sail abroad, one of which is using SID.

"Indonesia is one of the countries providing labor for sailors and as a country that sends great sailors in the world to the international work market, where currently 36,167 Indonesian sailors are registered as workers in Singapore," said Hendri.

Furthermore, he explained several benefits of e-SID for Indonesian sailors, including access without visas to international ports, recognition of identity as a legitimate seafarer / maritime worker, ease of repatriation / repatriation process for sailors (Off Hire).

In addition, the ease of international law protection and higher data security use international standard fingerprint biometrics.

He stressed that the SID document is an important right of sailors. The handover process is a form of the Ministry of Transportation's commitment to serve sailors fairly and professionally.

"If sailors face problems or find things that are inappropriate during the surrender process, we strongly encourage sailors to report them to the authorities for immediate treatment," he stressed.

On that occasion, SID was symbolically handed over to representatives of Indonesian sailors who worked in Singapore.

Several important aspects that are the focus of supervision in the submission of SID include accurate data verification, targeted distribution, transparent recording and reporting, and responsiveness to obstacles in the field.

"Until further supervision to ensure that this document really functions properly at various ports, both domestically and abroad," he explained.

He emphasized that this was in accordance with the mandate of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2008 concerning the Ratification of the ILO Convention Number 185 Concerning Revision of The Seafarers' Identity Documents Documents of the Seafarers Convention, 1958 (ILO Convention Number 185 concerning Amendment Documents of Seafarers, 1958).

"As well as the Decree of the Minister of Transportation Number 30 of 2008 concerning Marine Identity Documents, where Indonesia is one of the 39 countries in the world that has ratified this Convention," said Hendri.