C1.4.h. Who pays for documents that seafarers need to be able to travel to join ship? What about the cost of travel to obtain a visa?

In the light of Standard A.1.4, paragraph 5 of the MLC, 2006 relating to fees or other charges in the context of recruitment and placement [see C1.4.g.], in the absence of any relevant provision in the seafarer’s employment agreement or applicable collective bargaining agreement, one would expect the seafarer to cover the cost of a passport or similar travel document, and the shipowner to pay the cost of any necessary visa. The Conventions relating to seafarers’ identity documents (SIDs), Nos 108 and 185 (not consolidated in the MLC, 2006) [see A20.] do not contain a provision requiring the shipowner to pay for the SIDs. The MLC, 2006 does not address the question of what would be included as part of the shipowner’s obligation to cover the “cost of visas” and whether this would include travel costs seafarers may incur if they have to travel, perhaps to another country, to obtain a visa to allow them to join and/or voyage on board.

Recruitment and placement