The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has revealed that acquiring seafarers’ precious documents, namely the Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) and Seafarer’s Record Book (SRB), or Seaman’s Book, is now easier, cutting the red tape that has been the complaint of most seafarers in the past years.

According to Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan, from three days, securing the SIRB and SID are down to just two hours and 30 minutes — a significant improvement recorded by Marina.

Malaluan underscored the agency’s commitment to efficiency and digital transformation in maritime services.

“The Maritime Industry Authority, through the Manpower Development Service, has continuously streamlined its processing system for SID and SRB issuance. This initiative has reduced processing time to just about two hours and 30 minutes under normal conditions, a vast improvement from the previous waiting period of three to five days,” Malaluan stated.

In 2023, waiting time to get appointments ranged from three to four weeks.

Last year, a substantial reduction ranging from three days to five days has been recorded and currently, seafarers needing SID/SRB can get an appointment as early as the next day, while processing takes only about two to 2.5 hours.

“This remarkable efficiency boost is largely attributed to Marina’s digitalization efforts. The shift from paper-based to digital platforms — through the Marina Online Appointment System and the SID/SRB System — has significantly expedited processing while ensuring accuracy and accessibility,” Malaluan said.

She emphasized that beyond speed, Marina’s digital transformation has also strengthened administrative operations within the maritime sector.