A new pilot programme aims to introduce digital identity systems to the maritime sector, replacing paper-based checks for seafarers.
The initiative has been launched by SITA in partnership with Columbia Shipmanagement and IDsure as part of the wider SmartSea strategy. It focuses on creating a system that allows crew identities and professional certificates to be verified digitally.
The pilot is now underway with Columbia Shipmanagement. It involves storing verified qualifications in a digital “Seafarer Handbook,” which can be accessed on a mobile device. This replaces the need for physical documents and manual checks, which are commonly used across the industry.
The system can reduce the time needed for administrative tasks, allowing checks that previously took hours to be completed more quickly.
Jesper Holmgren, CEO at IDsure said:With this pilot, we are helping maritime authorities, training institutes, and shipping operators take a practical step toward digital certification. Working with SITA and Columbia Shipmanagement, we are replacing fragmented, paper-based processes with a more secure and verifiable digital approach built for global shipping.
Under the pilot, crew members store their identity and certification details in an app developed by IDsure. The system uses SITA’s identity verification technology to confirm official documents such as passports. According to the organisations involved, seafarers remain in control of their personal data, while authorities and operators can check credentials when required.
For shipping companies and port authorities, the system is intended to provide faster access to verified information and reduce the risk of errors or non-compliance. It may also help improve coordination with port and immigration systems over time.
Pedro Alves, Senior Vice President at SITA said:This project is a glimpse into the future of global mobility. Across every mode of transport, identity is still managed through paper-based and manual systems. By extending trusted digital identity to the maritime sector, we’re showing how the same secure technology that lets systems ‘speak’ to each other can also protect people’s personal data. It means crew identities can be checked instantly and safely wherever they travel, reducing delays, easing administrative burden for operators, and helping crews move faster between vessels and ports.
What we’re building with IDsure and our partners in the SmartSea ecosystem isn’t just innovation at sea, it’s a model for how digital identity can connect the world, safely and seamlessly, initially for seafarers, but extending to all ocean goers.
The project is part of a broader effort to modernise processes in a sector that relies heavily on manual documentation. More than two million seafarers work across tens of thousands of vessels worldwide, making identity verification a routine but complex task.
There are signs of wider interest in the approach. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has begun working with IDsure to introduce digital record books and certification for seafarers, reflecting a shift away from paper-based systems.
The current pilot is focused on bridge officers, with the possibility of expanding to other roles if the trial proves successful. Further developments are expected as maritime organisations consider adopting similar systems.
