British Columbia Ministry of Transportation Inland Ferries

The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation operates a number of cable, reaction, and conventional ferries across lakes and rivers in the interior of British Columbia. Different lakes are operated by private contractors to Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

All inland ferries are free to travel on, as they provide essential transportation links to local communities.

Conventional

Current

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Vehicle capacity	Passenger capacity	Route served	Notes
M.V. Balfour		1954	28	150	Kootenay Lake (Balfour - Kootenay Bay)	Secondary/relief vessel.
M.V. Centurion VI			5	52	Fraser River ( Port Kells - Barnston Island)
M.V. Columbia		2013-14	80	250	Upper Arrow Lake (Shelter Bay - Galena)
M.V. Francois Forester		2004	52	145	Francois Lake (Francois Lake - Southbank)
M.V. Osprey 2000		2000	80	250	Kootenay Lake (Balfour - Kootenay Bay)	Has snack bar

On order

Number	Thumbnail	Year	Vehicle capacity	Passenger capacity	Route served	Notes
1 vessel		2023	55		Kootenay Lake (Balfour - Kootenay Bay)	To retired the M.V. Balfour. To be the main vessel on the route during the off peak season. Will have snack bar

Retired

Name	Thumbnail	Class	Year	Vehicle capacity	Passenger capacity	Route served	Notes
M.V. T'Lagunna		None	1931	18	100	Albion Ferry Albion–Fort Langley	Retired in 1986 replaced by MV Klatawa.
M.V. Anscomb		None	1946	40	150	Kootenay Lake (Balfour - Kootenay Bay)	Retired in 2000, replaced by Osprey 2000.
D.E.V. Galena		None	1968	~50		Upper Arrow Lake (Shelter Bay - Galena)	Replaced by Columbia in 2014, retained as a backup vessel until 2016.
M.V Delta Princess		None	1949	36	187	Ladner - Woodward's Landing	Acquired in 1961 as part of Gulf Island Ferry purchase.
M.V. Omineca Princess		None	1983	34	200	Francois Lake (Francois Lake - Southbank)	Replaced by Francois Forester in 2004, retained as a backup vessel.
M.V. Shelter Bay		None	1969	30	150	Upper Arrow Lake (Shelter Bay - Galena)	Originally launched as M.V. Needles on Needles - Fauquier route. Replaced by Columbia in 2014, retained as a backup vessel until 2016.
MV Kulleet		K	1972	26	150	Albion Ferry Albion–Fort Langley	Transferred from Salt Water Division in 1985. Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1999 to TransLink.
MV Klatawa		K	1972	26	150	Albion Ferry Albion–Fort Langley	Transferred from Salt Water Division in 1978. Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1999 to TransLink.
M.V Lloyd Jones		None	1950	35	184	Lake Okanagan Westbank - Kelowna
M.V. Kelowna-Westbank		None	1927	15		Lake Okanagan Westbank - Kelowna
M.V. Pendozi		None	1939	30		Lake Okanagan Westbank - Kelowna

Cable

Cable ferries are unpowered vessels. They are pulled across the water by a set of cables running between shores.

Current

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Vehicle capacity	Passenger capacity	Route served	Notes
Adams Lake II		2017	10	48	Adams Lake (Chase - Sorrento)	Entered service in March 2017.
Arrow Park III		2020	24	50	Upper Arrow Lake (Hwy 6 - Arrow Park)	Enter service on March 30, 2020. To be converted to full electric operations in 2021.
Glade II		2017	10	48	Kootenay River (Hwy 3A - Glade)	Entered service in February 2018.
Harrop II		2019	24	98	Kootenay River (Longbeach - Harrop)
Needles		1990	40	135	Lower Arrow Lake (Needles - Fauquier)	Repainted into new livery in 2020.

Retired

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Vehicle capacity	Passenger capacity	Route served	Notes
Adams Lake			8	12	Adams Lake (Chase - Sorrento)
Glade		1948	8	50	Kootenay River (Hwy 6 - Arrow Park)
Harrop		1961			Kootenay River (Longbeach - Harrop)	Replaced by current Harrop Ferry in 1993; converted to barge.
Harrop		1949	18	49	Kootenay River (Longbeach - Harrop)	Originally served on Nelson Ferry until replaced by bridge in 1959. Transferred to Castlegar-Robson Ferry from 1959-1992. Transferred to Harrop Ferry from 1993-2018.
Arrow Park II		1949	24	50	Upper Arrow Lake (Hwy 3A - Glade)	Originally served on Castlegar-Robson Ferry until 1992.

Reaction

Reaction ferries are unpowered vessels. They are attached to an overhead cable spanning the river. To cross the river, the vessel angles its dual pontoons into the river's current, which propels the vessel across the river. During the winter months when the rivers are frozen or at low water levels, a passenger-only aerial tramway is available using the overhead cable.

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Vehicle capacity	Passenger capacity	Route served	Notes
Big Bar			2	12	Fraser River (Big Bar Creek)
Little Fort			2	12	North Thompson River (Little Fort - Hwy 5)
Lytton			2	18	Fraser River (Lytton - Hwy 12)
McLure			2	12	North Thompson River (McLure - Hwy 5)
Usk			2	12	Skeena River (Usk - Hwy 16)

External Links

• Inland Ferries