US CBP (Customs and Border Protection), in partnership with CCL-Carnival Cruise Line, has expanded the use of facial biometrics in the debarkation process at Port Baltimore (Maryland USA), becoming the latest seaport to modernize efforts to revolutionize cruising.
Stephen Maloney (CBP’s Director of Field Operations for the Baltimore Field Office) said that as cruise travel resumed around their nation’s ports, CBP was excited to partner with CCL and the Maryland Port Administration "to deliver a safe and secure identity verification process for cruise travelers at the Port of Baltimore cruise terminal."
“CBP’s public-private partnerships to expand biometric facial comparison at our air, land and seaports of entry has been critical to enhancing our nation’s security, streamlining travel efficiency and improving customer experience, while protecting the privacy of all travelers.”
Debarking travelers walk up to new technology that is matching their identity to their travel document photo within 2 seconds, while CCL employees assist.
The innovative entry process secures the customer experience while protecting the privacy of passengers. The enhanced arrival process using facial biometrics and verifying the traveler’s identity within 2 seconds is more than 98% accurate. After debarking the ship at a U.S. seaport, passengers pause for a photo that is to be compared to their existing passport/visa photo in secure DHS systems to verify their identity biometrically.
Currently, facial biometric comparison technology is provided at 14 seaports across the USA and has been successfully used to process arriving guests on cruise ships in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, and now Maryland.
187+ million travelers have participated in the biometric facial comparison process at land, air, and seaports of entry.