Ferries del Caribe has successfully installed two BorderXpress kiosks onboard its cruise ship, the MV Kydon.
The kiosks from Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) are the first-ever border control kiosks onboard a cruise ship or ferry.
Ferries del Caribe’s MV Kydon offers services from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The two kiosks have been on trial for five months on the ship and five more are expected to be installed this year. Reports in Puerto Rico say the kiosks cost USD 75,000 each.
In general, Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks can speed up passenger processing and improve the overall passenger experience. The kiosks can process more passengers per hour than traditional staffed desks.
They also free up border officers to focus on security, intelligence and enforcement activities.
The kiosks can be used by U.S. citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, Canadian citizens, travelers utilizing ESTA (Visa Waiver Program), and travelers entering with a B1/B2 or D visa.
How it works
Passengers first choose their language. Options include English, Spanish and French.
Using BorderXpress passengers complete the customs declaration onscreen and scan their passport at the kiosk. This then sends their encrypted information to a border control agency that returns a government response in s few seconds.
A receipt is then printed from the kiosk which the passenger takes to a border services agent who verifies the document and makes the final approval to allow a person into the country.
Chris Gilliland, Director of ITS, Vancouver Airport Authority:
“Today marks a momentous occasion for the cruise ship industry, and we are proud that our line of BorderXpress self-serve kiosks were chosen as part of this industry first.
“No matter where they are implemented, BorderXpress kiosks enable immigration officers to process more passengers per hour, reduce passenger wait times and overall operating costs, and free up border officers to focus on security, intelligence and enforcement activities.”
Néstor González García, President of Ferries del Caribe:
“This is a celebratory day for Ferries del Caribe as we become the first in the world to install border control kiosks onboard a passenger ship.
“We’re delighted to partner with Innovative Travel Solutions to implement the BorderXpress kiosks, which allow us to modernize our border clearance process and ensure our passengers have an enjoyable and seamless experience on their trip with us.”
More than 1,300 BorderXpress kiosks are currently in use at 39 airport and seaport locations. As of December 2017, BorderXpress kiosks have processed over 160 million passengers in 36 languages.
N.B. Image credit: Ferries del Caribe
