BORDER TECHNOLOGY AT PORT EVERGLADES

Posted on 06/24/2016 | About Port Everglades, Florida

Entry into the US may soon become less intense for cruise ship passengers arriving in Florida. Broward County’s Port Everglades will launch two pilot programmes this summer to make entry into the US as streamlined as it is for cruisers who enter Vancouver BC.

Port Everglades is working with Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean along with the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).The first programme is the Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosk where passengers can provide their travel documents and customs declaration forms prior to speaking to a CBP officer.The second programme is the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) where US citizens complete their Customs declaration using a smartphone app.The technology has been in service at airports, but Port Everglades will be the first US cruise port to test them for passenger pre-clearance.In Vancouver, once passengers embark the cruise ship they are considered to be entering US jurisdiction. (APC) kiosks are available at the Canada Place cruise terminal to expedite the border security process.