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All seafarers serving on board Cyprus flag vessels must hold a valid Cyprus Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book or a relevant exemption issued by Cyprus Maritime Administration (Article 5 of The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Seafarers and Seafarers' Register) Law 108(I)/ 2000 as amended).

Furthermore companies when employing a new seafarer not holding a valid Cyprus Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book, must apply to the Cyprus Maritime Administration for the issue of a Cyprus Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book or a relevant exemption, within 30 days from the engagement of such a seafarer on board a Cyprus flag vessel.

Contravention of the aforementioned provisions of Law 108(I)/2000 as amended, is punishable with a fine, not exceeding Euro 1708,60.

Application for the issue of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book
Each application for the issue of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book must be submitted through the eSAS online application system (requires Internet Explorer/Java), as per our Circular 25/2016 (to create an account to eSAS see the relevant application form - note that only the owners and managers of Cyprus flagged vessels are applicable to access eSAS ).

Usage of Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Books
The Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Books are issued in compliance with the provisions of Law 108(I)/2000 as amended and may be used only for engagement, discharge and recording sea service of a seafarer on board ships.

The content of the Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book is in accordance with the provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention n. 108 (1958) concerning seafarers' identity documents, and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW) 1978, as amended.

The Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book is neither a passport nor a travelling document and it is issued without prejudice to and in no way affects the nationality status of the holder.

Validity, replacement and renewal of Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Books
Validity of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book
The Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book is valid for up to ten (10) years from the date of issue.

Replacement of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book
Whenever the Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book becomes full with entries, needs to be amended or is damaged, an application for a replacement book should be made immediately.

If the Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book is stolen or is lost or destroyed, notification should be given immediately to the headquarters of the department and an application for a replacement book should be made. If a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book is lost in the mail during delivery, then the Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book will be replaced at no additional charge.

In case the name and or surname and or nationality of the holder of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book is changed, notification should be given immediately to the headquarters of the department and an application for a replacement book should be made.

Renewal of Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book
An application for renewal of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book should be made at least three (3) months prior to the expiration date of the book.
If the application is for a renewal of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book, a copy of the identification pages of the previous Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book is required as proof of identity.

Rejection of an application for the issue of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book
Applications for the issue of Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book are subject to the approval by this Administration. If an application is not approved the applicant will be promptly informed of the reasons of rejection. The applicant may, within forty-five (45) days from the date of rejection of the application, submit additional information and request re-examination of the application. If the application is not approved for the second time, the rejection is final.

It should be noted that in accordance with article 16 of The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Seafarers and Seafarers' Register) Law 108(I)/ 2000 as amended this Administration may refuse the issue of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book to any seafarer who has been convicted to imprisonment for a period exceeding 6 months, for smuggling or theft or fraud, or for trading / use of drugs or for any other reason it is deemed that employment of the seafarer on board Cyprus flag vessels is not appropriate.

Suspension and withdrawal of Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Books
The Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book remains the property of the republic of Cyprus and it may be suspended or withdrawn by The Merchant Shipping Disciplinary Committee, on account of a disciplinary offence or any other cause as provided for in the Cyprus legislation.

Upon suspension or withdrawal of a Seafarer's Identification and Sea Service Record Book issued by this Administration the seafarer in question and the Company employing the seafarer (if any) will be informed accordingly.