On 3 November 2000 the following information was provided to the Research Directorate by a professor of the Seafarers' International Research Centre at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom:

He/she needs to be over 16 years old.

He/she has to complete minimum elementary education (8 years in Turkey and requires ... certification with a diploma).

In order to get a seafarer's book the person has to submit the following documents to the Turkish Port Authorities (Administered by the Turkish Maritime Undersecratery. Major port cities in Turkey have Port Authorities - Istanbul, Izmir etc.):

birth certificate;

residential certificate;

health report from a state hospital or a clinic approved by the relevant Port Authority - seafarer needs to be examined by various specialist medical doctors;

clean report from the district and central Police Authorities;

STCW (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) certificates (minumum 4 certificates are required for basic positions (deck boy, messman etc.).

After all satisfactory documents are received the related Port Authority issues a seafarer's book.

Male applicants over 20 years old have to complete their compulsory military service.

After these procedures a Turkish citizen can seek employment on Turkish-based merchant ships. There are no state-owned merchant ships in Turkey, so each shipping company has different recruitment strategies and procedures.

Additional and/or corroborating information could not be obtained within time constraints.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Seafarers' International Research Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. 3 November 2000. Correspondence from a representative.