ILO adopts fingerprinting for seafarers
April 12 2004
IN A far reaching development that further contributes to the growing demand for stronger security measures in the high seas and in the world ports, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has taken a major step by adopting a new “biometric” identity verification system for some 1.2 million maritime workers who handle 90 per cent of the world’s trade.
The new measure is essential for the implementation of the revised seafarers’ identity documents convention adopted by the ILO last June.
The new biometric standard is aimed at providing a more rigorous response to the need for increased security among seafarers in the wake of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.
The new ILO convention will also protect the rights of the1.2 million seafarers worldwide, most of whom are from developing countries.
“This new measure brings the most modern electronic identity technology to the uncharted waters of security in the high seas,” said Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, director of the ILO programme responsible for the measure, over the weekend.
“This is important since in these uncertain times, ensuring the security of seafarers and the ships they work on is crucial to the continued smooth flow of world trade,” Doumbia-Henry said.
The new global standard will allow for the use of a “biometric template” for turning two seafarers fingerprints into an internationally standardised 2-D barcode on the seafarer’s identity document (SID).
Employers’ and workers’ groups, and a majority of governments represented at the governing body supported the immediate approval of a new standard as a matter of urgency to meet new security measures already being imposed on seafarers worldwide.
As a result of the ILO’s governing body decision, countries can proceed with immediate ratification of convention No. 185.
All ratifying countries will be able to issue new SID that conforms to the requirements specified in ILO SID-0002 finger minutiae-based biometric profile for seafarers’ identity documents.
Adhering to the standard will enable biometric verification of seafarers presenting a SID as they travel the globe doing their job.
The decision by ILO comes after months of negotiations and discussions on both the technical features and the economic as well as political implications for ILO member states.
ILO accepted the proposal of a minutiae-based method for fingerprint template creation, truncation, and barcode storage.
The prioritised biometric profile, ILO SID-0002, will be submitted as a technical report to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in support of ongoing collaboration with ISO and the International Civil Aviation Organisation on the issue of international standardisation of the SID.
The new convention will replace the convention on seafarers’ identity documents No. 108 (1958) and, will be effective as soon as two countries have ratified it.
The current 1958 instrument has been ratified by 61 ILO member states representing 60.7 per cent of the world fleet. — PortsWorld
mmail.com.my
steve |
