Digitization for seamen: 3 ways to get documents online

Currently, three digital tools are operating in Ukraine, which enable seafarers to obtain the necessary documents remotely.

The Ministry of Recovery and the Maritime Administration are ready to announce the launch of new tools for the maritime community in the near future.

Digital services for seafarers

1. Confirmation of receipt of copies of seafarers’ documents for departure to work.

This is a service for online receipt of “Confirmation of receipt of copies of educational and qualification documents”, which the sailor must provide when crossing the state border and at the military office.

After the introduction by the Government (Decision No. 992) of the procedure for seafarers to go to work during martial law, the Shipping Administration launched a digital service for obtaining confirmation, with which the seafarer then applies to the military commissariat.

To date, more than 27,000 sailors have held a signed confirmation. It is valid for 30 days from the moment of signing, and you can get a new Confirmation at any time without re-checking the seafarer’s data.

2. Service for verification of seafarers’ qualification documents.

With the help of this digital tool, the legitimacy of qualification documents issued to seafarers is established.

For successful verification, you need:

• register in the system;

• send scanned copies of documents for consideration to the Shipping Administration.

After the request is processed, the person will receive a response and a corresponding document with the results of the review, which contains a QR code.

During the two months of operation of the online service, the Shipping Administration received more than 27,000 requests from users.

3. Online registration for the exam for obtaining an international certificate for the right to operate a pleasure boat.

Applications for the exam are accepted both online and offline. And the exams themselves are conducted using a computer testing system, which makes it impossible for external influence on the result. When applying for the exam, each document must be signed by the KEP (qualified electronic signature, — ed.). Already 21 people have been admitted to the exam through online application.

According to the new procedure, the certification, registration and verification of seafarers’ qualification documents is the exclusive competence of the Shipping Administration. Thus, the Ministry of Reconstruction and the administration, in cooperation with the USAID / UK aid TAPAS Project, are implementing a reform in the field of certification of seafarers, which provides for the creation of an e-system of certification and a new Register of seafarers’ documents. Services for seafarers will soon be implemented on the Diya portal.