BC Ferries

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British Columbia Ferry Services, known as BC Ferries, is one of the largest ferry systems in the world. They provide service along the BC coast, between the mainland, Vancouver Island and numerous smaller islands along the coast.

History

BC Ferries was founded in the late 1950s as a crown corporation of the BC Government, and began operating a single route between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay on June 15, 1960. They later took over ferry operations from Black Ball Lines in the 1960s when the company was experiencing job action. To cope with increasing demand during the 1970s, BC Ferries embarked on a program to lengthen and add another deck to its vessels to increase their capacity. Saltwater ferry services provided by the BC Department of Transportation and Highways were transferred to BC Ferries in 1985. In 2003, the crown corporation was spun off as the independent company British Columbia Ferry Services.

COVID 19 response

For more information on operational changes related to COVID-19, please refer to Transportation-related agency responses to COVID-19 pandemic.

Routes

BC Ferries assigns route numbers to its ferry services. These numbers are for internal use, and are not normally displayed to the public.

Current routes

Regulated by Province of British Columbia

These routes require a certain amount of round trips per day and certain amount of sailing per year to meet the Coastal Ferry Services Contract.

Former

Contracted out routes but regulated by the Province

Unregulated routes contracted out

These routes just get funding from Province of British Columbia but do not have conditions to meet under the Coastal Ferry Services Contract.

Terminals

The list of terminals in the system by region.

Metro Vancouver & Southern Vancouver Island

Sunshine Coast & Texada Island

Southern Gulf Island

Northern Vancouver Island & Northern Gulf Islands

Central & Northern Coast & Haida Gwaii

Fleet

Cable vessel

Name Thumbnail Year Port of Registry Class Vehicle capacity Passenger capacity Route(s) served Notes
Baynes Sound Connector 2015 Victoria, BC None 50 150 21
  • World's longest cable ferry.

Conventional vessels

Name Thumbnail Year Port of Registry Class Vehicle capacity Passenger capacity Route served Notes
Coastal Celebration 2008 Victoria, BC Coastal 370 1604 1
Coastal Inspiration 2008 Victoria, BC Coastal 370 1604 30
Coastal Renaissance 2007 Victoria, BC Coastal 370 1604 30 (peak)
1, 30 (off-peak, relief)
Island Aurora 2019 Victoria, BC Island 47 300 25
Island Discovery 2019 Victoria, BC Island 47 300 18
Island Gwawis 2021 Victoria, BC Island 47 300 19
Island Kwigwis 2021 Victoria, BC Island 47 300 19
Island K’ulut’a 2021 Victoria, BC Island 47 300 23
Island Nagalis 2021 Victoria, BC Island 47 300 23
Kahloke 1973 Victoria, BC K 30 200 21 (peak)
  • Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
Klitsa 1972 Victoria, BC K 22 150 12
  • Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
Kuper 1985 Victoria, BC K 32 269 20
  • Purchased from Utah Department of Transportation and rebuilt into new design in 2006.
Kwuna 1975 Victoria, BC K 26 150 26
  • Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
  • Equipped with loading ramps to load & unload from boat launches.
Malaspina Sky 2008 Victoria, BC I 125 465 7
  • Originally named Island Sky; renamed on October 24, 2019.
Northern Adventure 2004 Victoria, BC None 101 640 11 (peak)
10/11 (relief)
Northern Expedition 2009 Victoria, BC None 130 638 10 (peak)
10/11 (off-peak)
Northern Sea Wolf 2000 Victoria, BC None 35 150 28[1]
  • Purchased used in 2017; entered service in 2019.
Quadra Queen II 1969 Victoria, BC T 30 150 Spare/relief
  • Transferred from BC Department of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
Queen of Alberni 1976 Victoria, BC C 290 1193 30
  • Lifted in 1984 to increase car capacity from 144.
Queen of Capilano 1991 Victoria, BC I 100 457 8
  • Gallery decks added in 2015.
Queen of Coquitlam 1976 Victoria, BC C 360 1488 3 (peak)
2, Spare/relief (off-peak)
Queen of Cowichan 1976 Victoria, BC C 360 1488 2 (peak)
2, 3 (off-peak)
Queen of Cumberland 1992 Victoria, BC I 127 456 5A
4, 7, 8 (relief)
  • Equipped with platform decks.
Queen of New Westminster 1964 Victoria, BC None 270 1325 1 (peak)
30 (relief)
  • Lifted in 1991 to add upper car deck and received new engines.
Queen of Oak Bay 1981 Victoria, BC C 360 1488 2
Queen of Surrey 1981 Victoria, BC C 360 1488 3 (peak)
2, 3 (off-peak)
Quinitsa 1977 Victoria, BC None 50 300 22
  • Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
Quinsam 1982 Victoria, BC None 70 400 6
  • Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
Skeena Queen 1997 Victoria, BC Century 100 450 4
Salish Eagle 2016 Victoria, BC Salish 138 600 5, 9
Salish Heron 2021 Victoria, BC Salish 138 600 5, 9
Salish Orca 2016 Victoria, BC Salish 138 600 17
Salish Raven 2016 Victoria, BC Salish 138 600 5, 9
Spirit of British Columbia 1993 Victoria, BC Spirit 410 2100 1
Spirit of Vancouver Island 1994 Victoria, BC Spirit 410 2100 1
Tachek 1969 Victoria, BC T 30 150 24
  • Originally named Texada Queen; refitted and renamed in 1977.
  • Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1985.

Retired roster

Name Thumbnail Year Port of Registry Class Vehicle capacity Passenger capacity Route(s) served Notes
Albert J Savoie 1960 Victoria, BC N 16 133
Bowen Queen 1965 Victoria, BC Powell River 70 400 6 (peak)
Spare/relief (off-peak)
Cy Peck 1913 Victoria, BC None 18 135 5, 8
  • Acquired in 1961 as part of Gulf Islands Ferry purchase.
  • Retired in 1966, replaced in part by Mayne Queen.
Dogwood Princess 1969 Victoria, BC None 0 30 13
Dogwood Princess II 1979 Victoria, BC None 0 38 13
  • Retired in 2003 after operation of route 13 was contracted out.
George S Pearson 1925 Victoria, BC None 18 134 5
  • Acquired in 1961 as part of Gulf Island Ferry purchase.
  • Retired in 1966, replaced in part by Mayne Queen.
Howe Sound Queen 1964 Victoria, BC None 70 300 6
Jervis Queen 1926 Victoria, BC None 45 600 7
Langdale Queen 1903 Victoria, BC None 80 600 3
Mayne Queen 1965 Victoria, BC Powell River 70 400 5A
  • Equipped with side load ramps until 1979.
Mill Bay 1956 Victoria, BC None 16 136 12
  • Acquired in 1969 as part of Coast Ferries purchase.
  • Retired in May 2011, replaced on route by Klitsa.
Nimpkish 1973 Victoria, BC N 16 95 28A
  • Transferred from BC Department of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
  • Replace by Northern Sea Wolf.
North Island Princess 1958 Victoria, BC None 49 150 18
  • Acquired in 1969 as part of Coast Ferries purchase.
  • Lengthened and gave a catamaran double hull in 1971.
  • Transferred to BC Department of Transportation and Highways from 1977-1985.
PacifiCat Discovery 1999 Victoria, BC PacifiCat 235 1000 2
  • Catamaran design, for "Fast Ferry" program.
  • Removed from service in 2000.
  • Sold to Washington Marine Group in 2003.
PacifiCat Explorer 1998 Victoria, BC PacifiCat 235 1000 2
  • Catamaran design, for "Fast Ferry" program.
  • Removed from service in 2000.
  • Sold to Washington Marine Group in 2003.
PacifiCat Voyager 2000 Victoria, BC PacifiCat 235 1000 2
  • Catamaran design, for "Fast Ferry" program.
  • Never entered service after cancellation of PacifiCat sailings in 2000.
  • Sold to Washington Marine Group in 2003.
Pender Queen 1923 Victoria, BC None 40 250 5
  • Acquired in 1961 as part of Gulf Island Ferry purchase.
  • Renamed from Motor Princess in 1963.
  • Retired in 1980.
Powell River Queen 1965 Victoria, BC Powell River 68 400 23
  • Saddle lounges removed to allow for additional overheight vehicles in 1973.
Princess of Vancouver 1955 Victoria, BC None 150 984 17
  • Transferred from BC Department of Highways and Transportation in 1985.
  • Retired in 1987, replaced on route by Queen of Sidney.
Queen of Burnaby 1965 Victoria, BC B 192 897 17
  • Previously a V class vessel and did not receive additional car deck like other V-Class vessels.
  • Leased in 1994 to Victoria Line as Royal Victorian to operate between Victoria and Seattle.
    • Sub-leased to Victoria Clipper as Princess Marguerite III.
    • Returned to BC Ferries in 2000 as Queen of Burnaby.
  • Replaced by Salish Orca in 2017.
Queen of Chilliwack 1978 Victoria, BC None 115 400 28 (summer)
7 (off-peak)
  • Originally built as Bastø I; purchased by BC Ferries in 1991.
  • Served on Discovery Coast Passage and Earls Cove - Saltery Bay routes.
  • Became a spare vessel after being replaced by Island Sky in 2009.
  • Sold to Goundar Shipping Limited in Fiji as Lomaiviti Princess III in 2015.
Queen of Esquimalt 1963 Victoria, BC V 376 1656 3 (summer)
Backup/relief vessel (off-peak)
  • Sold in 2008 to Dalian Gold Sun as Princess Jacqueline and scrapped in Mexico in 2011.
Queen of the Islands 1963 Victoria, BC None 483 40 9
  • Designed for Tsawwassen - Gulf Islands route until 1969; later operated as spare vessel.
  • Sold in 1991 to St. John's Fishing Lodge.
  • Currently resides in Mosquito Creek Marina as Spirit of the Nation, a floating event venue.
Queen of the North 1969 Victoria, BC None 115 700 10,
11 (Refit replacement)
  • Originally built as Stena Danica operating in Sweeden.
  • Purchased by BC Ferries in 1974 as Queen of Surrey.
  • Refitted and transferred to Inside Passage route as Queen of the North in 1980.
  • Was not able to dock in Discovery Coast route terminals excluding Bella Bella,
  • Ran aground and sank on March 22, 2006; replaced by Northern Adventure.
Queen of Prince Rupert 1965 Victoria, BC None 80 544 10 (off peak)
11
Queen of Nanaimo 1964 Victoria, BC B 192 1,004 9
  • Previously a V class vessel, did not receive additional car deck like other V-Class vessels.
  • Retired on September 2, 2017 and replaced by Salish Eagle.
  • Sold to Goundar Shipping Limited in Fiji as Lomaiviti Princess V in 2017.
Queen of Saanich 1963 Victoria, BC V 360 1708 1
  • Retired in 2008 and sold as Owen Belle to a logging camp.
  • Sent for scrap in Mexico in September 2012.
Queen of Sidney 1960 Victoria, BC Sidney 138 989 17
  • Renamed from Sidney in 1963.
  • Retired in 2000.
Queen of Tsawwassen 1960 Victoria, BC Sidney 128 640 7 (summer)
Backup/relief vessel (off-peak)
  • Renamed from Tsawwassen in 1963.
  • Retired in 2008.
Queen of Vancouver 1962 Victoria, BC V 338 1708 1
  • Renamed from City of Vancouver in 1963.
  • Sold in 2009 to Coast Marine and scrapped in Mexico in September 2012.
Queen of Victoria 1962 Victoria, BC V 286 1360 1
  • Renamed from City of Victoria in 1963.
  • Sold to R & G Importadora & Exportadora as Queen of Ocoa in 2001.
  • Scrapped in 2006.
Quillayute 1927 Victoria, BC None 35 600 7
Saltspring Queen 1949 Victoria, BC None 36 187 4, 5, 6
  • Acquired in 1961 as part of Gulf Island Ferry purchase.
  • Renamed from Delta Princess in 1963.
  • Retired in 1996.
Sechelt Queen 1947 Victoria, BC None 83 670 3
  • Acquired in 1961 as part of Black Ball Line purchase.
  • Sold to BC Department of Highways and Transportation in 1976 for use on Comox - Powell River route.
S.S. Smokwa 1946 Victoria, BC None 46 473 3
  • Acquired in 1961 as part of Black Ball Line purchase.
  • Only vessel to operate as a steamship in BC Ferries service.
  • Sold in 1966.
Sunshine Coast Queen 1952 Victoria, BC None 180 973 3
  • Originally named Vacationland and operated by Michigan Department of Highways between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.
  • Purchased from Compagne Navigation Nord-Sud in 1967, previously named Pere Nouvel.
  • Put into storage in 1977 due to high operation costs.
  • Sold in 1987 to be turned into an oil-drilling support vessel, but never converted. Sunk in December 1987 while being towed to China for scrap.
Tenaka 1964 Victoria, BC None 30 244 24
  • Transferred from BC Department of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
  • Renamed from Comox Queen in 1977.
  • Retired in December 2014, sold to Lady Rose Marine Services.
Vesuvius Queen 1950 Victoria, BC None 35 184 4, 5, 6
  • Originally built as Lloyd Jones, operated on Lake Okanagan between Kelowna and Westbank.
  • Purchased by BC Ferries in 1962, renamed Bowen Queen for use on Horseshoe Bay - Bowen Island route.
  • Renamed in 1965 to Vesuvius Queen.
  • Sold in 1998 to R & G Importadora & Exportadora.

Independently operated but owned by BC Ferries

Vessel owned by BC Ferries but not operated by them.

Current

Name Thumbnail Year Port of Registry Class Vehicle capacity Passenger capacity Route(s) served Operator Notes
Nicola 1960 Victoria, BC N 16 133 Prince Rupert - Port Simpson Lax Kw'alaams First Nation
  • Original named the M/V Quadra Queen until 1969
  • Renamed the MV Cortes Queen in 1969 until 1973
  • Renamed the Nicola in 1973
  • Transferred from BC Department of Transportation and Highways in 1985.
  • Vessel transferred to Lax Kw'alaams First Nation as Spirit of Lax Kw'alaams but stilled owned by BC Ferries.

Retired

Name Thumbnail Year Port of Registry Class Vehicle capacity Passenger capacity Route(s) served Operator Notes
Garibaldi II 1964 Victoria, BC N 7 332 Darrell Bay - Woodfibre Woodfibre Pulp Mill owner


Under contract but not owned by BC Ferries

Name Thumbnail Year Port of Registry Class Vehicle / cargo capacity Passenger capacity Route(s) served Operator Notes
MV Uchuck III None Victoria, BC 1942 70 tons cargo 100 passengers Kyuquot – Tahsis – Gold River Get West Adventure Cruises
  • Built in Oregon as a minesweeper.
  • Purchased in 1951, converted and entered service in 1955.
MV Frances Barkley None Victoria, BC 1958 100 tons cargo 200 passengers Port Alberni - Kildonan - Bamfield - Port Alberni Lady Rose Marine Services
  • Ex-car ferry Hidle, purchased in 1990.[2][3]
MV Spirit of Yalis None Victoria, BC Port McNiell - Alert Bay Western Pacific Marine Ltd.
MV Centurion VII None Victoria, BC 1985 Limited freight capacity French Creek - Lasqueti Island Western Pacific Marine Ltd.

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Journey On Board the Northern Sea Wolf, Launching Summer 2018, BC Ferries, retrieved 09-30-2017.
  2. ↑ Details for registered vessel FRANCES BARKLEY (O.N. 806968), Transport Canada, retrieved 05-06-2017.
  3. ↑ MV Frances Barkley - photo & discussion thread, West Coast Ferries Forum, retrieved 05-06-2017.

Official websites

Forum

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