BBC - Seamen sail into biometric future
A trial of biometric identification technology is underway aboard cruise ships in the Caribbean. This is of interest because these biometric ID cards are meant to be international, not specifically national, as most ID cards and passports are now. The tests, "are designed to ensure that new cards and their machine readers, produced by different companies in different countries, are working to interoperable standards." A common standard for identity verification and/or access control is a natural requirement for a future technological fulfillment to the Mark of the Beast (Rev 13:16-18).