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 1965 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)

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.[1]

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
M.V. Anscomb None 1946 40 150 Kootenay Lake
(Balfour - Kootenay Bay)
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. Omineca Princess None 1983 34 200 Francois Lake
(Francois Lake - Southbank)
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 BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1999 to TransLink.
MV Klatawa K 1972 26 150 Albion Ferry
Albion–Fort Langley
  • Transferred from BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1999 to TransLink.

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.[2]
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.[3]
Glade II 2017 10 48 Kootenay River
(Hwy 3A - Glade)
  • Entered service in February 2018.[4][5]
Harrop II 2019 24 98 Kootenay River
(Longbeach - Harrop)
Needles 2002 30 144 Lower Arrow Lake
(Needles - Fauquier)

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.[6]
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.[6]
Arrow Park II 1949 24 50 Upper Arrow Lake
(Hwy 3A - Glade)
  • Originally served on Castlegar-Robson Ferry until 1992.[6]

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

  1. Kootenay Lake Ferry Service Improvements - New Vessel BC Government Inland Ferries, retrieved 10-06-2020.
  2. Adams Lake Ferry, BC Ministry of Transportation, retrieved 03/31/2018.
  3. [1]! BC Gov news, retrieved 04/09/2020.
  4. Glade Cable Ferry, BC Ministry of Transportation, retrieved 03/31/2018.
  5. New, built-in-B.C. ferries connect West Kootenay communities, BC Gov News, retrieved 03/31/2018.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Harrop & Glade Cable Ferries - Photos & Discussion, West Coast Ferries Forum, retrieved 03/31/2018.