An announcement from Carnival Cruise Line said it would utilize facial biometric technology to speed up debarkation and expand its partnership with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“We are doing everything possible to make the debarkation process as simple as possible for our guests by expanding this technology to our U.S. homeports,” said Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy. We are partnering with CBP to develop these technology solutions that make the process more efficient, while giving guests a sense of security and safety.

There are nine of Carnival Cruise Line’s 14 U.S. homeports that use the technology, including Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville, New York, Baltimore, Mobile, Galveston and Long Beach, where the debarkation process has been sped up by an average of 30%.

When passengers disembark the ships after a cruise, they take a photo and the image is biometrically compared to their passport or visa photo, which verifies their identity with over 98 percent accuracy.

By partnering with the cruise industry, CBP hopes to enhance security and streamline the passenger experience by incorporating facial biometrics into the debarkation process. A deputy executive assistant commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, Sabatino said, “We’re excited to expand the use of facial biometrics.” We will continue to transform cruise operations through our partnership with Carnival Cruise Line by utilizing technology and improved processes and strengthening our data sharing agreement in order to strengthen port security in the United States.”

CBP Officers can perform manual document checks on U.S. travelers and select foreign nationals who want to avoid the facial biometric process.