First of their kind passport machines at Vancouver cruise ship terminal
Posted May 13, 2015 12:48 pm.
Last Updated May 13, 2015 4:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – You’ve probably seen them at the airport, and now automated passport machines are popping up at cruise ship terminal. Vancouver has become the first city in the world to introduce them at Canada Place.
The technology, created at YVR, will allow people to be processed up to four times faster than traditional clearance. People can scan their passports at the terminal and the information is sent to one of the border guards where they’ll gain clearance.
Port Metro Vancouver says because there’s still the requirement to visit an officer, safety of the cruise ships won’t be compromised.
“These are people that are generally on holiday and demographics of the cruise industry are what they are, and so we don’t see these passengers are particularly high-risk,” says Vice President of Planning and Operations Peter Xotta.
Port Metro Vancouver paid for the machines at a cost of $500,000. Maintenance costs are confidential, so exact numbers won’t be given.
Story written by Lauren Sundstrom
