Ukraine to Launch Remote SID Service for Stranded Seafarers

Ukraine is set to roll out a pilot program aimed at enabling the remote processing of Seafarers’ Identity Documents (SIDs), providing critical support to thousands of Ukrainian crew members stranded overseas due to war, red tape, and logistical complications.

While an exact launch date has not been confirmed, crew management firm Danica Crewing Specialists indicated the initiative is likely to begin in the coming months.

The new system comes in response to ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian seafarers who are unable to return home and have limited access to government offices and documentation services.

For the first time, Ukrainian crew working abroad will be able to apply for or renew their national SIDs via a new remote processing center located in Warsaw, Poland. This development eliminates the need to travel back to Ukraine for official paperwork, helping to preserve seafarers’ jobs and contracts.

Under the updated framework, the authority to issue SIDs will move from local port captains to the Maritime Administration, enabling a fully digital and paperless process.

Danica, which oversees a significant number of Ukrainian seafarers, called the change a major step forward for the country’s maritime sector.

“This is a practical solution to a very real problem and one that could inspire other flag states to modernise and support their seafarers more effectively. Too often, outdated processes and paperwork gaps have forced Ukrainian crew off ships despite being willing and able to work. A remote option is not just convenient. It is essential to their livelihoods,” said Henrik Jensen, CEO of Danica Crewing Specialists.

The move is being viewed as a key modernization effort that could serve as a model for other maritime nations aiming to better support their seafarers during times of crisis.