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About Seaman’s Discharge Book
Seaman’s Discharge Book is a seafarer's identity and travel document in accordance with requirements of ILO Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958.
Seaman’s Discharge Book is issued to a registered seafarer who is employed for service on a ship involved in international shipping and who has a personal identity document issued by Latvian authorities, to foreigners – a permanent identity document issued by a foreign authority and a permanent residence permit issued by Latvian authorities. Seaman’s Discharge Book is issued to persons studying at maritime educational institutions and assigned to do in-service training on a vessel.
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Note! If seafarer’s name, surname, nationality, personal identity number, date of birth and place of birth are changed, the Seaman’s Discharge Book is invalidated and it must be exchanged within 30 days after receiving of the new identification document. |
Procedure of Issue
Submission or reception of documents are provided by appointment only. For the submission of documents, the seafarers shall apply by the telephone calling the number +371 67099419. Reception of seafarers is carried out at 15-minute intervals. The seafarer shall arrive at the Registry of Seamen on the appointed time exactly. In case of being late, the Registry of Seamen shall be informed immediately by calling the number +371 67099419, and another appointment shall be arranged. The seafarer is not allowed into the Registry of Seamen, if he/she misses his appointment.
In an exceptional case, if the seafarer has to urgently go to work at sea, it is possible to submit documents without an appointment during reception times of the Registry of Seamen. In addition to the submitted documents, the seafarer must have a written confirmation from the employer, addressed to the Registry of Seamen of the Maritime Administration of Latvia. The confirmation is submitted together with the documents or the employer sends it in advance to the e-mail of the Registry of Seamen jr
lja.lv
The seaman's book is issued on the basis of a seafarer's application prepared in the Latvian Registry of Seamen.
Photographing for a Seaman's Discharge Book takes place in the Latvian Registry of Seamen on the 1st floor in the Information Room (No. 7a). In case of an extraordinary situation (if for technical reasons, it is impossible to make a photo), the seaman should submit a photograph that meets the requirements for passports (the size of the photograph should be 35x45mm).
Person employed by a foreign shipping company which does not have agency in Latvia, can apply for a Seaman’s Discharge Book:
- If the person is registered in the database of the Latvian Registry of Seamen;
- Based on foreign shipping company request.
Latvian citizens and non-citizens acquiring accredited and approved maritime education program in a foreign country that is IMO memberstate, can apply for a Seaman’s Discharge Book based on a reference issued by the aforesaid educational institution.
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Note! If the Seaman’s Discharge Book is not taken within 2 months after submission of the documents to the Registry of Seamen, the seafarer will be forced to re-submit the documents (including payment) |
Registry of Seamen do not issue the Seaman’s Discharge Book if:
- Necessary documents are not submitted or the seafarer refuses to give explanations, which are related to the receipt of the Seaman’s Discharge Book;
- The seafarer has submitted invalid documents;
- The seafarer by a court judgement has been found guilty of a serious or very serious crime;
- Seafarer, crew manning company or educational institution have given false information;
- Issuing institution does not confirm authenticity of the submitted documents.
- the recognized medical practitioner has issued the declaration on insufficient medical fitness.
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