The Bahamas Maritime Authority is moving deeper into digital service delivery through a new partnership with IDsure, shifting essential seafarer documents into secure digital form. The move aims to bring clarity, efficiency and stronger oversight across global maritime labour systems.
The Bahamas Maritime Authority has taken another step in its digital transformation by partnering with IDsure to issue Seafarer Record Books and Competency Certificates through a fully digital process. The agreement brings together the BMA’s existing BORIS system and IDsure’s identity verification platform, creating a unified route for issuing and managing credentials.
The shift reflects an effort to make certification faster and more reliable for thousands of seafarers who rely on these documents for employment and compliance. Once a seafarer completes verification through the IDsure App, their digital Record Book and certificates will appear instantly in their account. This replaces paper-based processing, manual uploads and the delays that often accompany traditional workflows.
Ship operators and crew managers are also set to benefit. After an application is approved by the BMA, credentials can be issued without the need to gather passport photos or signatures. The authority describes this as a practical improvement for both sides of the system, cutting out repetitive administrative work.
Training centres will see the impact as well. Around 35 approved centres fall under the BMA’s oversight, each audited every five years. They issue thousands of certificates that the BMA must validate and monitor. Under the new arrangement, certificates issued through IDsure will flow directly into BORIS. This gives the BMA immediate visibility of training activity and supports more consistent regulatory oversight.
“The Bahamas Maritime Authority is committed to continuous improvement and the responsible use of technology to enhance the services we provide to our seafarers and industry partners,” said Capt. Kapila Malawwethanthri, Deputy Director, Seafarers and Manning Department at the BMA. He added that the partnership strengthens the BMA’s digital infrastructure and delivers “faster processes, secure verification, and a seamless digital experience.”
The integration work between BORIS and IDsure is already underway. The BMA has begun informing ship owners, managers and training institutions about the upcoming digital process and plans to issue a further announcement when the service goes live.
IDsure positions itself as a secure credentialing platform built for regulated industries. Its system connects authorities, training bodies and individuals in a single digital framework intended to simplify verification and record keeping.
The BMA expects the new digital route to create more consistent service quality while supporting modern expectations for transparency and trust in maritime certification.
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