Launch of the Seafarers Information System

The previously used Seafarers Register by the Transport Administration's Certification Department covered the basic needs for storing and adding new seafarers’ documents, but it did not allow seafarers to access their documents themselves. The entire process of applying for seafarers’ documents had to be done in person at the Transport Administration’s office. Since sailors had to visit the office at least twice (once to submit the application and again to collect the documents), the estimated time spent for a single document application was at least 60 minutes. Considering that over 1000 documents are processed annually by the Certification Department, creating a more convenient application option for seafarers was a significant goal for the Transport Administration. Thus, at the end of 2019, an international public procurement was announced for the development of a new and modern seafarers’ information system, in which we were the best bidder.

The project lasted a total of 11 months and was full of exciting challenges for the entire development team. In a short period, a comprehensive and flexible processing environment was created, which consolidates an overview of a seafarers’ maritime portfolio and serves as a daily working tool for the Certification Department officials. Simply put, the Seafarers Information System is like an online CV for seafarers, consolidating all work and qualification-related information.

During the project, we conducted a detailed analysis, prototyped and designed the user interface, developed all system functionalities, and migrated data from the old system to the new one.

The development side was challenged by the number of integrations with other systems. The created system is integrated via the X-Road with the Population Register, Identity Documents Register, Estonian Education Information System, TARA, and Data Tracker. Queries can also be made in the other direction, to the Seafarers Information System via the X-Road.

The project's end result was a modern and user-friendly self-service environment that allows seafarers to apply for new documents, get an overview of their existing certificates of competency, confirmation sheets, medical certificates, practices, training, and maritime education data.

For the Transport Administration officials, the completed system makes the processing flow significantly easier to follow. Additionally, the new system helps save officials' time, allowing documents to be issued more quickly than before.

The system also includes essential roles outside the Transport Administration. Doctors are provided with an overview and the ability to enter medical certificates into the system. Additionally, due to the lack of a unified system for seafarers’ medical certificates, a functionality for checking the validity of medical certificates was created. Manning service providers, captains, and shipowners can enter internships into the system, confirm internships entered by seafarers, and get an overview of the internships. Representatives of maritime educational institutions can enter training results for sailors and make bulk entries based on the examination protocol. This eliminates a lot of paperwork as the data can be entered directly into the system.

You can explore the Seafarers Information System at: https://meremees.transpordiamet.ee/

Read the Transport Administration media coverage: Ajakiri Veeteede Teataja. 2021 Nr 4

Technologies used

Front-end: HTML5/CSS, TypeScript, Bootstrap, Vue.js

Back-end: ASP Net Core, C#

Database: PostgreSQL

Other technologies: IdentityServer 4, Docker, Marten, OpenAPI/NSwag, Rebus, Serilog, TARA