Implementing Digitalization and Authentication of Seafarer’s Identification and Certification in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

When seafarers join a ship, they must carry a bunch of certificates comprising competency certificates, short course certificates, and endorsements. The onus is on the ship's captain to check the certificates' authenticity. Various industries incorporated digitalization systems into their daily activities. However, the maritime field has not taken advantage of digitalization yet. For this research, a questionnaire with thirteen questions about the advantages and disadvantages of certification digitalization was prepared and distributed to professionals in maritime and port operations. Sixty-four professionals from the maritime industry answered. In this study, the authors propose innovation to digitalize the certificates and make them available for identification either to the Master of the ship, the shipping companies, or the port state controls of any other country worldwide. This study aims to create a reliable and approved system that certificates issued by training centers, colleges, and private institutes would cease to be on paper.