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The ferry boat crossing between Navegantes and Itajaí, operated by NGI Sul, started adopting facial recognition this week to identify passengers entitled to free service. According to the NSC portal, the system replaces manual verification at the ticket office and applies to seniors over 65, people with disabilities, and patients undergoing renal or chemotherapy treatment, according to State Law No. 12.119 of Santa Catarina.
The technology was implemented by the concessionaire NGI Sul, responsible for operating the four ferries that connect the central regions of Itajaí and Navegantes 24 hours a day. When the change started: this week, with the update of the photographic registration of users already registered in the free service system. How facial recognition works in the crossing: the registered passenger will be automatically identified by the system when approaching the boarding point, without needing to present documents or a physical pass at the ticket office. Why the company adopted the technology: according to NGI Sul, the measure was taken to make the identification process faster, safer, and more efficient for those entitled to free service, eliminating queues and manual checks that delayed boarding.
Seniors who are not yet registered in the system will be attended to in a new phase scheduled for July. Until then, free access will continue to be guaranteed by direct identification at the ticket office, in the conventional way. NGI Sul emphasized that the change in technology aims to facilitate service and modernize the service, and that the right to free service will not be altered by the new system.
Who is entitled to free service on the ferry boat
Free service on the crossing between Navegantes and Itajaí is guaranteed by State Law No. 12.119 of Santa Catarina and covers three groups of passengers. Seniors over 65 are entitled to free passes, as well as people with disabilities who present a specific medical report and patients undergoing renal or chemotherapy treatment, according to current regulations. Facial recognition will automatically verify if the passenger belongs to one of these groups, without the need to present documents for each trip.
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To access the benefit, users need to gather the required documentation and submit a request for a free pass issuance on the official website of the Government of Santa Catarina. After this step, it is necessary to collect the pass at the Free Pass Program Headquarters in Navegantes and to re-register at the beginning of each semester, or whenever it is necessary to update information. Facial recognition adds a layer of convenience to the process but does not eliminate the need for initial registration and periodic re-registration.
How technology changes the boarding routine
Before facial recognition, the verification of free access on the ferry boat was done manually at the ticket office. The passenger presented the physical pass, an attendant checked the data, and granted access. During peak hours, when hundreds of people gather to cross between Navegantes and Itajaí, this manual check created lines and delays that affected both beneficiaries and paying passengers.
With facial recognition, the system automatically identifies the passenger and grants access without human interaction at the ticket office. The speed particularly benefits the elderly, who represent the largest portion of users entitled to free access and who often face difficulties handling documents, waiting in lines, or moving quickly in boarding environments. For the operator, the system also reduces the possibility of fraud in the use of the free pass, ensuring that only registered beneficiaries use the free access.
The phase of updating registrations
At this initial stage, NGI Sul is updating the photographic records of users already registered in the free access system. The update is necessary because facial recognition requires recent and high-resolution images to accurately identify passengers. Old photos, low-quality images, or those that do not match the user’s current appearance may cause recognition failures and prevent automatic access to free access.
The elderly who are not yet registered will be attended to in a new stage of the process, scheduled to start in July. The company chose to implement in phases to avoid overloading the service and to allow the technical team to adjust the system based on the results of the first stage. Until facial recognition is functioning for all beneficiaries, conventional identification at the ticket office will remain available as an alternative.
How much the crossing costs for those without free access
Facial recognition controls free access, but most ferry boat passengers pay for the crossing. The pedestrian fare in 2026 is R$ 2, a bicycle costs R$ 2.55, a motorcycle R$ 3.20, and a car R$ 10.15. Trucks and large buses pay R$ 19.65, the same amount charged for cars with trailers. Payments are accepted in cash, Pix, or debit, with no credit card option.
For the thousands of residents who cross between Navegantes and Itajaí daily, the cost of the crossing is a fixed part of the monthly budget. A person who crosses by car twice a day, round trip, spends R$ 20.30 daily or more than R$ 400 per month just on the crossing. The free passage for the elderly, people with disabilities, and patients in treatment represents a significant saving for families who depend on the ferry boat as the only road link between the two cities.
Four ferries, 24 hours, two cities
The ferry boat operated by NGI Sul connects the central regions of Itajaí and Navegantes with four ferries operating 24 hours a day. In addition to the main connection between the centers of the two cities, the company also operates a route between the neighborhoods of Barra do Rio and Machados, expanding crossing options for residents of more remote areas. The continuous operation ensures that night shift workers, healthcare professionals, and residents who need to cross at dawn are not left without transport.
The ferry crossing is the fastest alternative for those who need to go from Navegantes to Itajaí or vice versa without traveling dozens of kilometers by land. The road connection between the two cities requires a considerable detour via BR-101, making the ferry boat not just a convenience but a necessity for the region’s mobility. With facial recognition speeding up the boarding of beneficiaries, the expectation is that the overall passenger flow will improve during peak hours.
Facial recognition on the ferry: modernization with an open question
The ferry boat between Navegantes and Itajaí is starting to use facial recognition to control the free passage of the elderly, people with disabilities, and patients in treatment. The system replaces manual checks at the ticket office, promises to speed up boarding and reduce fraud, with implementation in phases starting this week and extending until July. The technology does not change the right to free passage but changes the way it is verified.
What do you think about using facial recognition to control free passage in public transport? Tell us in the comments if you use the ferry boat between Navegantes and Itajaí, if you are entitled to free passage, and how you evaluate the switch from manual verification to biometric technology. We want to hear your opinion.
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