Seafarers’ Identity Document with Biometrics Helps Officials Verify Cardholder Identity

The Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council has selected 3M to deploy the 3M Identity Document Issuance System for the Nigerian Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID). The new SID will employ biometric identity verification to help officials accurately verify the cardholder’s identity, consequently allowing seafarers easier entry to foreign ports.

The 3M Identity Document Issuance System provides a secure issuance system tailored to meet recently announced International Labour Organization (ILO) standards for international identity documents. The 3M System converts document holders’ fingerprints into a biometric template, then encodes the prints into an internationally standardized, two-dimensional bar code printed on the SID. The biometric component of the 3M System helps to ensure interoperability, meaning that the biometric written by one country can be read by another.

Authorities can use the 3M Identity Document Issuance System to compare “live” fingerprints of the SID holder with the biometric stored on the document to confirm identity and check document authenticity. The 3M Identity Document Issuance System also helps ensure document security by issuing identification documents only to those who are entitled and authorized to receive them.

3M brings more than 30 years of experience, a global presence, technical innovation and a strong customer focus to the secure document marketplace. Our solutions cover a broad spectrum of enhanced travel and border security, including document issuance and border management.

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3M Security SystemsJoan M. Olseen, 651-736-1163or3M Public RelationsConnie S. Thompson, 651-733-8914http://www.3m.com/PressContact