Instruments related to COVID-19
Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/365)
16.The Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 1987 (SI 1987/408) laid down qualifying criteria for the issue of a British Seaman’s Card which allows the holder to travel to and from ships more easily and to disembark in ports for shore leave or medical treatment. Although based on the International Labour Organisation Seafarers’ Documents’ Convention 1958 (“ILO 108”), which did include fishermen in its scope, the 1987 Regulations did not extend the use of these documents to fishermen.
17.The Explanatory Memorandum states that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments imposed strict travel restrictions but, as key workers, seafarers were often exempt from those restrictions. Without a British Seaman’s Card, fishermen were not able to prove they were key workers, which caused problems in some ports including in Norway and Denmark. By making service in a fishing vessel qualifying service for the British Seaman’s Card, this instrument will help to facilitate the free movement of fishermen and help move the UK towards the ratification of the ILO Convention. The Department for Transport expects around 1500 applications.