Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) : grounds for suspension or revokation

One of the most important document before any seafarer able to board any local or international ships is the Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) or commonly known as Seaman’s book. This book details everything about the seafarer basic personal information and seagoing service.

SIRB refers to a document issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to all Filipino seafarers and others including cadets who render services on board ships; The SIRB is a seafarer’s identity document issued for the purpose of providing the holder with identity papers for travel to or from an assigned vessel. It also provides the holder with a continuous record of his/her sea service and specify the particular category or rating which the holder is qualified to serve.

Basic personal information includes name, date and place of birth, height, weight, color of eyes and hair, distinguishing marks, sex, date and place of issue and validation. It also contains seagoing service information pertaining to name of vessel, official number, place of registry, gross tonnage, rank, date and place of embarkation and disembarkation, and signature of master. 

As the SIRB is considered a license issued by the government,  a Filipino seafarer can risk/ legally forfeit his ‘passport’ to work and earn overseas under the following scenarios as enumerated by MARINA: 

Grounds for suspension/revocation of SIRB

• Incompetence, negligence of incapacity in the performance of duty.
• Intemperate habits such as drunkenness tending to cause immediate loss or destruction or serious damage to the vessel or tending to endanger the life of any person organic to or passenger of such vessel.
• Insubordination or direct assault
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the contract without just cause
• Final conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of a crime involving moral turpitude

Mandatory revocation of SIRB

– Assault with dangerous weapon

– Malicious destruction of ship’s property

– Misconduct resulting in loss of life and/or serious injury

– Molestation of passenger

– Murder or attempted murder

– Mutiny

– Possession, use, sale or association with prohibited drugs, including marijuana

– Sabotage

– Court conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude

– Smuggling of aliens or goods including firearms and ammunition

– Theft of ship’s property or stores

– Perversion

– Jumping ship

– Serious neglect of duty

 Memorandum Circular No.96 was  i issued to establish a system of wathlisting of seafarers who are facing disciplinary, administrative or criminal changes. The watchlist is a computer-file of seafarers who are black-listed on the basis of any of the following: 

1. The seafarer is in the blacklist of the POEA, copy of which is officially furnished MARINA; 

2. The seafarer has been listed and found to have criminal records by the NBI; 

3. The seafarers has been officially reported to MARINA by any prosecuting arm or agency of the government for being involved in heinous crimes or capital offenses; or 

4. The seafarers is administratively charged with MARINA for violation of maritime laws, rules and regulations and there exists strong evidence of guilt against him/her. 

Those in the watchlist are not qualified to apply for or to be issued SIRB or STCW certificates, unless and until he/she is cleared from the charges against him/her.