Royal Caribbean Cruises Adds MFace Biometrics for Quick Debarkation

"Innovative solutions that improve our guests’ total experience – including the final step of clearing Customs in a fast, secure, frictionless process – is Royal Caribbean’s way of the future," added Captain Thomas Hinderhofer, Royal Caribbean’s Director of Cape Liberty Cruise Port and Miami Cruise Terminal A. (Courtesy of Royal Caribbean)

IDEMIA, in cooperation with Royal Caribbean, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Entry/Exit Program, which was recognized in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program for Excellence in Homeland Security, are implementing IDEMIA’s MFace™ high speed 3D face capture technology into Royal Caribbean’s debarkation process.

Following successful completion of trials the program is now moving into commercial production at the following ports: Cape Liberty, New Jersey, and the Port of Miami.

MFace offers a reliable and accurate solution for capturing facial biometrics.

No need to stop, no bottlenecks, no delays.

MFace authenticates a continuous flow of people walking through a designated area in real-time using independently proven facial recognition technology and efficient 3D video tracking.

MFace by IDEMIA is an ideal facial capture solution for a wide range of applications such as automated border control, self-service touchpoints such as self-bag-drop and self-boarding in airports.

(Same technology, different application. Learn More. Courtesy of IDEMIA and YouTube.)

IDEMIA’s facial recognition technology is enabling Royal Caribbean’s passenger debarkation process to be both more secure and efficient.

The use of IDEMIA’s MFACE technology is playing a key role in enhancing the passenger experience by successfully completing the debarkation process significantly faster than the manual verification method previously used.

Smart capture for the ultimate user experience!

Courtesy of IDEMIA
MFACE is a field proven, ‘on-themove’ biometric solution from IDEMIA. At the forefront of facial biometric technology, it improves people flow management while increasing security.(Courtesy of IDEMIA)

The MFace technology streamlines the process by comparing the facial identities of passengers disembarking with the identities of ticketed passengers who boarded the ship at the start of a cruise, matching against images in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Traveler Verification Service (TVS).

To ensure that passenger privacy is maintained, no images will be stored by Royal Caribbean, CBP or IDEMIA after the trip is completed.

While providing a level of convenience for Royal Caribbean passengers, facial recognition also helps CBP swiftly identify impostors.

CBP’s primary mission is to protect the United States from potential threats and the facial comparison biometrics system is one part of CBPs’ strategy to deploy the best technology available to protect the American people.

Courtesy of CBP
Courtesy of CBP

“Facial biometric technology is transforming how we travel by enabling a trusted identity verification,” explains Donnie Scott, Senior Vice President, Public Security for North America at IDEMIA.

“The solution we deployed in collaboration with CBP and Royal Caribbean demonstrates how facial recognition can simultaneously improve the customer experience and strengthen the U.S. Entry/Exit processes.”

Donnie Scott, SVP & GM, Public Security, IDEMIA
Donnie Scott, SVP & GM, Public Security, IDEMIA

IDEMIA and Royal Caribbean anticipate additional deployments in additional Florida ports later in 2019, each of which process multiple million passengers annually.

“Innovative solutions that improve our guests’ total experience – including the final step of clearing Customs in a fast, secure, frictionless process – is Royal Caribbean’s way of the future,” added Captain Thomas Hinderhofer, Royal Caribbean’s Director of Cape Liberty Cruise Port and Miami Cruise Terminal A.

“We received very positive guest feedback on the enhanced facilitated Customs process powered by facial biometric technology systems as it allows our passengers to seamlessly pass through the CBP inspection process.”

“We look forward to having this solution available in more ports nationwide and continue to lead the change for the industry.”

CBP Entry/Exit Program takes Platinum in the 2nd Consecutive ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

2018 ASTORS Platinum

  • ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’

  • CBP Entry/Exit Program 

  • Aims to Implement a Biometric Exit System that Enhances Security, Minimizes the Impact to Travelers, Control Costs and Safeguards Travelers Privacy

  • *US CBP was also recognized with a Win in the 2017 ‘ASTORS’  Homeland Security Awards Program

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.

William "Bill" Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), the Boston Police Department (BPD) and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), will speak at the 2019 'ASTORS' Homeland Security Awards Luncheon at ISC East 2019, on Wednesday, November 20th, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center (Courtesy of Teneo Risk)
Bill Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), the Boston Police Department (BPD) and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), will speak at the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Luncheon at ISC East 2019, on Wednesday, November 20th, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center (Courtesy of Teneo Risk)

The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program drew an overwhelming response from industry leaders with a record high number of corporate and government nominations received, as well as record breaking ‘ASTORS’ Presentation Luncheon Attendees, with top firms trying to register for the exclusive high – end luncheon and networking opportunity – right up to the event kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, at the ISC East registration!

Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:

2018 ASTORS

  • The Department of Homeland Security
  • The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • The Department of Homeland Security
  • The Department of Justice
  • The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!

The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by ATI SystemsAttivo NetworksAutomatic SystemsDesktop Alertand Royal Holdings Technologies.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

AST-Image-of-Eagle-and-Flag-resized-2

Comprehensive List of Categories Include:

Access Control/ Identification Personal/Protective Equipment Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism
Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System Interagency Interdiction Operation Cloud Computing/Storage Solution
Facial/IRIS Recognition Body Worn Video Product Cyber Security
Video Surveillance/VMS Mobile Technology Anti-Malware
Audio Analytics Disaster Preparedness ID Management
Thermal/Infrared Camera Mass Notification System Fire & Safety
Metal/Weapon Detection Rescue Operations Critical Infrastructure
License Plate Recognition Detection Products And Many Others!

Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

2018 Champions Edition

See the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Champions Edition – ‘Best Products of 2018 ‘ Year in Review’ for in-depth coverage of the outstanding products and services of firms receiving American Security Today’s 2018‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards.’

Nominations for the AST 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program will officially open as of January 1st, 2019 at americansecuritytoday.com.

Enter Early to Maximize Media Coverage of your Products and Services at Kickoff, and Get the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!

And be sure to Register Early for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East 2019 to ensure your place at this limited- space event!

Dean Dimotsis, Assistant Port Director Tactical Operations, U.S. CBP, JFK International Airport Office of Field Operations, Michael Madsen, AST Publisher, and Leon Hayward, Acting Director, U.S. CBP New York Field Office
Dean Dimotsis, Assistant Port Director Tactical Operations, U.S. CBP, JFK International Airport Office of Field Operations (at left), and Leon Hayward, Acting Director, U.S. CBP New York Field Office (at right), accepting the CBP Platinum 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Award at ISC East in NYC.

Why the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?

American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’

Why American Security Today?

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 70,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.

The old traditional security marketplace has been covered by a host of security publications that have changed little over many years.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that provides our readers with solutions to their challenges.

Our Editorial staff provides a full plate of topics for our AST monthly digital editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts.

The editorial calendar and AST’s high drawing website features 23 different Technology and Marketing Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities and Emergency Response among others.

These sectors are part of the new integration, where these major applications communicate with one another in a variety of solutions to protect our cities and critical infrastructure.

AST has Expanded readership into vital Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other Potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – enticing targets for extremist or lone wolf attacks due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

IDEMIA logoIDEMIA is a global leader in Augmented Identity, providing trusted technology enabling citizens and consumers alike to perform their daily critical activities (such as pay, connect, travel and vote), in the physical as well as digital space.