The Straits Times
2 November 2018

ICA aims at speedy clearance without compromising security

We thank Mr Tan Kok Tim for his feedback (Improve immigration processes at cruise centres; Oct 26).

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is committed to the efficient clearance of travellers at cruise centres, while not compromising security. We plan ahead with the cruise and terminal operators to make this possible.

For instance, we work with the operators to monitor passenger flow and stagger their release into the immigration hall. Also, our Flexible Immigration Clearance System allows us to adjust the number of manned and automated counters available, according to the composition of cruise travellers on board a cruise liner.

If a cruise liner carries more Singaporeans, more automated lanes will be made available to them as they are allowed to go through the automated clearance. This helps ensure smoother immigration clearance.

When the load at the cruise centre is expected to be very high, such as when two cruise ships call at the same time, we sometimes send our officers to perform pre-clearance checks on board the cruise ships before they arrive in Singapore.

This facilitates a faster rate of clearance when the passengers subsequently disembark at the cruise centre.

ICA will continue to look for innovative ways, and work with our partners, to enhance our immigration clearance at our checkpoints.

 

Patrick Ong
Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

 

<Original Letter>

The Straits Times
26 October 2018

Improve immigration processes at cruise centres

I feel assured that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will explore the use of the best biometric recognition technologies to scan travellers' iris and facial images to speed up the immigration clearance processes at our checkpoints (ICA trials eye scans to boost border security; Aug 6).

This must be efficient enough to clear huge numbers of people in long queues during peak periods at all the checkpoints.

In addition, I am particularly concerned with the slow immigration processing of incoming passengers from cruise ships at our cruise centres.

When more than 1,000 passengers disembark at the same time from a huge cruise ship on a short 24-hour stopover, huge immigration queues are formed.

Such passengers have only a precious few hours to visit the tourists spots in Singapore. Holding them up in long immigration queues is most distressing to them.

If the long queue problem at the cruise centres is not addressed thoroughly, it would reflect poorly on our efficiency.

Perhaps our immigration officers should be sent to New York City to learn how United States immigration officers and top cruise centres clear the passengers on board the cruises - instead of in a terminal building - smoothly and efficiently. We must not lose out on the opportunity to be the best cruise centre in this part of the world.

 

Tan Kok Tim