Facial biometric checks for arrivals at Port of Jacksonville

For passengers with Carnival

Carnival Cruise Line and the CBP have introduced facial biometric checks for passengers arriving at the Port of Jacksonville.

These cruise ships disembark thousand of passengers. The Carnival Elation, pictured above, has over 2000 passengers.

So its really important to have a secure and streamlined arrivals experience.

That’s why the CBP is now using facial comparison / recognition for arrivals by air and increasingly by sea.

How it works

Upon disembarking, passengers have their picture taken. The biometrics in that live picture are compared to those in the passenger’s existing passport or visa photo in U. S. government systems.

A camera captures the passenger’s live facial biometrics [Image: cbp]

The systems verify the passenger’s identity within two seconds with more than 98% accuracy.

After a confirmed match, passengers collect their baggage, and proceed through inspections and exit the terminal.

U.S. and select foreign nationals may opt out of the facial biometric process and can request a manual document check from a CBP Officer.

Vernon Foret, CBP’s Director of Field Operations for the Miami and Tampa Field Office:

“CBP and Carnival are innovating the cruise debarkation process through the use of facial biometrics to provide travelers a secure, touchless process to verify identity while enhancing the customer experience.

“In addition, CBP and our cruise partners are expanding data sharing agreements to further strengthen the maritime environment.”

Facial recognition/comparison at U.S. seaports

The CBP uses the term facial comparison not facial recognition. Whichever term you use, the deployment is very impressive

To date, facial biometric comparison technology is available at 36 seaports across the United States.

Here are all the seaports with facial comparison.

Facial recognition/comparison at U.S. airports

CBP has successfully implemented facial biometrics into the entry processes at all international airports, known as Simplified Arrival, and into the exit processes at 36 airports. 

To date, CBP has processed more than 200 million passengers using biometric facial comparison technology and prevented more than 1,600 impostors from entry to the U.S.

Carnival Cruise line use of facial recognition

Carnival Cruise Line uses facial recognition at embarkation, debarkation and throughout the trip.

Thousands of passengers can disembark at the same time [Image: Pixabay / Lesa Cornell]

At check-in, a picture is taken of each passenger and stored for the duration of the cruise.  Then each time passengers board or leave the vessel, another photo is taken. The biometric data collected during the voyage is purged following the cruise.

Photos are taken throughout the voyage, and facial recognition is used to provide passengers access to photos in which they are identified through Carnival’s mobile app or on-line following the cruise.


Internet links

Carnival Cruise Line

Port of Jacksonville

CBP Biometrics