The present background paper is intended to provide information that will facilitate the discussion at the Tripartite Meeting of Experts. The paper is organized in three parts, including this first part, together with two appendices. Part II provides information on the current status of Convention No. 185 and provides some background on the Convention, its objectives and the current issues. Part III outlines options, including cost and benefit considerations, with respect to implementation and achieving the objectives of the Convention. The options are set out in two sections, sections A and B, relating to the two different situations of Members. Section A outlines issues and possible solutions for Members of the International Labour Organization (ILO) that have ratified Convention No. 185 and, in most cases, have made significant investments in the technology to implement the Convention. Section B considers issues and possible options that would include Members that have not ratified Convention No. 185 but may have maritime interests, including the welfare of seafarers, the viable operation of international shipping and security issues. In that respect it is also noted that under article 19 of the Constitution of the ILO, even if a Member is not bound by a Convention there is an underlying obligation to report to the ILO’s Director-General, at appropriate intervals, on the position of its law and practice in regard to the matters dealt with in the Convention, showing the extent to which effect has been given, or is proposed to be given, to any of the provisions of the Convention by legislation, administrative action, collective agreement or otherwise, and stating the difficulties which prevent or delay the ratification of such Convention.