Passengers departing Vancouver on summer cruises to Alaska will be able to whiz through U.S. customs thanks to 10 new kiosks that Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) has installed at Canada Place.
The $500,000 investment will allow passengers to scan passports and answer questions before getting receipts that they hand to customs agents – much like what is already the case at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Currently, U.S. customs agents screen all passengers at Canada Place without the advantage of this time-saving procedure. Passengers who board cruises in Vancouver get screened through customs first and then are able to leave their ships in Alaska without having to go through customs in that vast yet relatively unpopulated state.
“With this launch, PMV’s cruise terminal has become the first worldwide to utilize automated passport control technology for U.S.-bound passengers,” said Peter Xotta, who is vice-president of planning and operations with PMV.
“These kiosks will further enhance the cruise passenger experience at Canada Place.”
The project is a collaboration between PMV and the Vancouver Airport Authority (VAA).
Eligible passengers for the kiosks include U.S. and Canadian passport holders and U.S. permanent residents. This service is available without pre-registration and there are no fees.
“Our goal has always been to improve the travel experience,” said Craig Richmond, who is VAA’s president and CEO.
“By expanding our homegrown BorderXpress technology and introducing it at Port Metro Vancouver, YVR is continuing to innovate and make every travel experience, whether at an airport or a port, more efficient and hassle free.”
