The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) to introduce facial biometric know-how for passengers embarking on cruises on the Canada Place terminal.
Based on a press launch, the Port of Vancouver is the primary seaport in Canada to introduce the know-how for Canadian and U.S. passengers boarding cruise ships.
The facial biometric scanning system is ready to reinforce passenger expertise, terminal effectivity, and border safety, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority mentioned.
“We’re excited to associate with U.S. authorities to implement this state-of-the-art passenger processing know-how—which can assist us present a quick, safe, and handy expertise for passengers embarking on a cruise,” mentioned Peter Xotta, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
“Our ongoing partnerships with authorities and business are essential to enhancing the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal and guaranteeing it will probably proceed to fulfill rising demand whereas enhancing the expertise of passengers. We need to thank the CBP for working with us to implement facial biometric processing—a Canadian-first innovation for a cruise terminal that may assist a extra environment friendly and safe border verification course of,” he added.
Based on the port authority, the facial biometric know-how will absolutely automate guide doc identification verification checks for these boarding a cruise that require admission into the U.S., similar to journeys to Alaska.
Passengers may have a photograph taken as a part of the cruise ship boarding course of at Canada Place, which will probably be in comparison with the picture from their pre-trip journey documentation inside seconds.
“CBP and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority are excited to announce a brand new identification verification course of incorporating facial biometrics that gives a safe, touchless expertise at embarkation for cruise passengers,” mentioned Diane Sabatino, appearing government assistant commissioner, workplace of discipline operations, at CBP.
“That is one other instance of the worth and impression of innovation by way of public-private partnerships that may allow CBP to reallocate assets to maximise border safety whereas enhancing the general passenger expertise,” she added.
The Canada Place facial biometric program has been personalized for the terminal’s operational wants, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority mentioned, and contains assist to open loop pre-inspection for passengers boarding in a Canadian marine surroundings who will journey on to locations within the U.S.
The brand new program replaces the earlier automated passport kiosks launched in 2015 for Canadian and U.S. vacationers.
The know-how supporting the brand new program was supplied by Pangiam, a BigBear.ai firm, and was developed in shut collaboration with CBP and the port authority.
“BigBear.ai is proud to have interaction with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and CBP for one more deployment of its safe biometrics,” mentioned Kevin McAleenan, president of BigBear.ai and former appearing secretary of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety and former commissioner of the CBP.
The brand new facial biometric program will probably be operated with assist from SSA Marine, which offers operational administration on the Canada Place cruise terminal on the port authority’s behalf.
“This modern system guarantees to streamline and elevate the passenger expertise, providing enhanced comfort and effectivity for vacationers visiting the terminal whereas sustaining the integrity of border safety,” mentioned Elise Ferguson, common supervisor – Vancouver at SSA Marine.
Based on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, anybody who needs to decide out of the facial biometric course of might notify a Canada Place cruise terminal consultant as they enter the first inspection level and can as an alternative be required to current legitimate journey paperwork for a guide inspection.
Related facial biometric know-how presently operates at 20 U.S. cruise terminals for passenger debarkation upon return to the U.S.
Canada Place is the primary cruise terminal the place facial biometric know-how is being carried out on embarkation.