Marine Security Operations Bulletin 2023-003

Clarification of the acceptable identification required for cruise ship screening

Purpose

Transport Canada’s marine security regime is designed to ensure that Canada’s transportation system remains one of the safest and most secure system in the world.

Cruise ships are increasingly issuing Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and alternative wearable technology (medallins/bracelets/wristbands) to replace traditional boarding passes for passengers.

The purpose of this bulletin is to notify regulated Canadian marine stakeholders, and more specifically, operators of marine facilities as to what exactly is considered acceptable identification in order to verify the identity of authorized persons and allow entry into/transit through a marine facility/cruise ship terminal.

Background

The cruise ship industry’s implementation of RFID wearable technology identification is raising the question and issue of what is acceptable identification to allow access into and through a marine facility/cruise terminal in order to embark on the ship.

Boarding passes, medallions and bracelets alone - without supporting photo identification - do not permit marine facility security personnel to confidently verify the identity and establish that the individual presenting themselves is in fact the authorized passenger.

Of concern is the reasonable possibility of an unauthorized individual obtaining a paper boarding pass, medallion or bracelet by various means (lost, stolen, manufacturing/copying, being given, etc.) and gain access through the initial marine facility/cruise terminal screening point.

Guidance

Boarding passes or non electronic bracelets without photo identification do not meet the intent and requirements of the MTSR.

MTSR 326. For MARSEC level 1, the security procedures for access control shall include, as appropriate to the facility’s operations,

1. verifying the identity of every person seeking to enter a controlled access area and the reasons for which they seek entry by confirming at least one of the following:
   1. joining instructions,
   2. passenger tickets,
   3. boarding passes,
   4. work orders or marine surveyor orders,
   5. government identification,
   6. restricted area passes,
   7. access passes or other identification issued by the marine facility or, if applicable, passes issued by the port administration, or
   8. visitor badges issued in accordance with an identification system;

While Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) can indicate the intent and/or reason for the passenger to seek access to the marine facility/cruise terminal screening point, they do not permit marine facility security personnel to confidently verify the identity of the person and establish that the individual presenting themselves is in fact the authorized passenger of a cruise ship. A government issued document or document issued by the vessel which includes a photo/name in addition to the RFID would adequately validate the identity of the person.

Should the marine facility/cruise terminal screening point be equipped to read the RFID technology (which includes a picture/name of the passenger), the RFID alone could be accepted as identification.

Any comments, suggestions or concerns can be addressed to the Director, Marine Security Operations by e-mail at dirops.marsec-sumar@tc.gc.ca.

Original Signed by:

Aiden Ryan
Director, Marine Security Operations

July 2023