Ukraine is preparing to launch a pilot scheme allowing the remote processing of seafarers’ identity documents (SID) for thousands of its seafarers stranded abroad by war, bureaucracy, and logistical dead ends.
No fixed date has been set for the scheme’s introduction, but, according to crew supplier and management company Danica Crewing Specialists, it’s believed to be in the next few months.
This move comes at a time when many Ukrainian seafarers are often unable to return home and have limited access to government services.
For the first time, Ukrainian seafarers located abroad will be able to apply for or renew their national SID through a new remote centre in Warsaw. This removes the need to return home for critical paperwork and other obstacles which jeopardised jobs and contracts.
Responsibility for issuing SIDs will shift from local port captains to the Maritime Administration and enable a fully paperless certification process.
Danica, which manages large numbers of Ukrainian crew, revealed in a statement that this would be a ‘transformational shift toward modern maritime services capable of unlocking continuity and security for the country’s workforce.’
“This is a practical solution to a very real problem and one that could inspire other flag states to modernise and support their seafarers more effectively. Too often, outdated processes and paperwork gaps have forced Ukrainian crew off ships despite being willing and able to work. A remote option is not just convenient. It is essential to their livelihoods,” said Henrik Jensen, CEO of Danica Crewing Specialists.
