Broward County’s Port Everglades is launching the new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) approved Mobile Passport Control (MPC) program for cruise ship travel beginning Friday, November 4, making it the first U.S. seaport to use the new Smartphone technology, according to a press release.

The MPC program is currently in use at a number of airports across the country.

The MPC program is the first Smartphone app authorized to expedite a traveler’s entry process into the United States. The app allows U.S. citizens with a passport debarking a cruise ship to complete their Customs declaration using their smart phones or other mobile devices, expediting their clearance process in the terminal. It is currently available for iOS phones and is expected to be available for Android phones later this month.

“Port Everglades purchased the required equipment earlier this summer in anticipation of the MPC program’s approval by CBP, and we are now the first and only seaport to offer this app.” said Steven Cernak, Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director. “An added bonus is that MPC will be in service in time for the arrivals of Royal Caribbean Line’s Harmony of the Seas and Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam. Mobile Passport Control is another feature that will help us enhance the cruise guest experience.”

“Though our partnership with Port Everglades, we have worked together to bring new technology and procedures to the cruise ship processing environment,” said Jorge Roig, CBP Port Director, Port Everglades. “The addition of the Mobile Passport App and Automated Passport Control Kiosk to the cruise ship environment will bring added benefits to all those that utilize the program and will assist CBP in the completion of its mission of keeping maritime travel safe.”