Steamship Authority passengers with mobile devices now have the option to purchase paperless tickets online, according to an announcement from the boat line.

The new eFerry tickets were tested on the Nantucket high-speed ferry service before being introduced system-wide this week. They use near-field communication technology, commonly called NFC, for redemption, instead of asking passengers to scan a barcode displayed on a smartphone.

Customers redeem their tickets by loading them to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay prior to arriving at the terminal and then holding their iPhone, Apple Watch or Android device near a ticket scanner to board the ferry.

The Steamship Authority is the first domestic ferry operator in the U.S. to use NFC, according to the announcement.

The eFerry tickets can be purchased on the web at at app.steamshipauthority.com, without having to log in to an account. Customers simply choose their route, their fare and the number of tickets before paying. The tickets are then loaded to the customer’s Apple Wallet or Google Pay and are ready to be redeemed at the terminal.

According to the SSA announcement, future enhancements to the eFerry ticket system will include the ability to load multi-ride cards, including the five-ride Lifeline Card, the 10-ride Ferry Pass Card and the 46-ride commuter books, to a customer’s Apple Wallet or Google Pay.

More information is posted at steamshipauthority.com/eFerry.