Digital seafarer passport pitched at IMO session

Digital seafarer passport pitched at IMO session
April 9, 2026 https://splash247.com/digital-seafarer-passport-pitched-at-imo-session/

A new digital identity platform for seafarers has been put in front of flag states at the IMO’s Facilitation Committee (FAL 50), as the industry looks to cut paperwork and tighten security checks.

Maritime Passport presented its app-based solution, which aims to act as a digital passport for crew, storing certifications, credentials and work eligibility in one place.

Co-founder Martin White said the tool is designed to ease the administrative burden on seafarers while giving authorities and employers quicker access to verified data.

“Our solutionwill cut through the high administrative burden of finding, collating and sharing credentials,” he added.

The system, introduced with backing from the Bahamas Maritime Authority, is built to integrate with existing flag state systems rather than replace them. Developers said it uses established global ID standards and does not commercialise seafarer data.

Chief technology officer Marcel Wendt said the platform is meant to act as a neutral layer linking certification, compliance and identity checks.

The pitch comes as digitalisation moves higher up the IMO agenda, with discussions at FAL 50 focusing on data sharing and trust across borders.

Maritime Passport said the platform could allow near-instant verification of crew documents, cutting delays in hiring and port clearance while reducing costs.

A wider rollout is planned from the second quarter of 2026, with flag states able to tailor the system to their own certification frameworks.