Each person employed on board a Marshall Islands flag vessel, other than those persons such as certain hotel staff personnel on passenger vessels, scientists aboard research and satellite launch vessels, livestock tenders aboard cattle carriers, riding repair crews, oil production workers on FPSOs and MODUs and other non-maritime personnel who are not regularly assigned or required to perform shipboard safety and pollution related duties, shall have in his or her possession an official Marshall Islands "Seafarer's Identification and Record Book."

An officer or rating may be of any nationality and need not be a citizen or resident of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to apply for a Seafarer's Identification and Record Book.

The Seafarer's I.D. Book 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 provides the holder with a continuous record of his/her sea service and contains the certificates of special qualifications which specifies the particular category or rating in which the holder is qualified to serve.

The Application for Seafarer's Identification. Book and Special Qualifications (Form MI-273) must be submitted in person to a receiving/filing agent who has been approved by the Maritime Administrator for the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

• Reviewing the application (Form MI-273) for completeness and accuracy.
• Verifying that the photographs and identity documents do in fact identify the applicant.
• Ensuring that the required physical examination is current (Form MI 105-M).
• Witnessing the signing of the application and completing the section reserved for the filing agent.

Over 100 filing agents throughout the world have been approved to receive and file applications. Shipowners may apply directly to the Maritime Administrator for authorization to act as filing agents. When the application for the I.D. Book is received by Seafarers' Identification and Certification it will be reviewed and processed.

The first issue of the ID. Book is valid for five (5) years and the fee is US$50.00. The second issue I.D. Book is valid for ten (10 years and the fee is US$75.00. When an I.D. Book expires, the sea service pages remain valid. Consequently, the seafarer should retain possession of all expired books.

In order to qualify for a Special Qualification Certificate, the seafarer must provide proof of the required sea service and must either pass a written examination (multiple-choice format) and/or attend an approved training course, or present an equivalent certificate which has been issued by his/her national government.

Special Qualification Certificates are issued through IRI's Seafarers' Documentation. These certificates range from the lesser entry ratings of Junior Ordinary Seaman and Wiper; to the more superior Tankerman Person-in-Charge which is issued to licensed officers.

An applicant for any of these certificates should submit the Application for Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book and Special Qualifications (Form MI-273) through an authorized filing agent.

To apply for Marshall Islands Special Qualification as Survival Craft/Rescue Boat Crewman (for the "hotel staff" on passenger vessels) use Application for Certification of Special Qualifications (Pax Vsl) (Form MI-279P).

The Application for Seafarer's Identification. Book and Special Qualifications (Form MI-273) can be reviewed, processed and mailed in a period of one week. The special Qualification Certificate is designed to be affixed to the allotted space in the Seafarer's I.D. Book.

For complete details regarding the issuance of the Seafarer's I.D. Book and Special Qualification Certificates refer to "THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MERCHANT MARINE PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION" (MI-118, Sections 6 and 7) which is available from any IRI office.