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) |
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M.V. Centurion VI | 5 | 52 | Fraser River ( Port Kells - Barnston Island) |
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M.V. Columbia | 2013-14 | 80 | 250 | Upper Arrow Lake (Shelter Bay - Galena) |
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M.V. Francois Forester | 2004 | 52 | 145 | Francois Lake (Francois Lake - Southbank) |
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M.V. Osprey 2000 | 2000 | 80 | 250 | Kootenay Lake (Balfour - Kootenay Bay) |
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On order
Number | Thumbnail | Year | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity | Route served | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 vessel | 2023 | 55 | Kootenay Lake (Balfour - Kootenay Bay) |
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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 |
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M.V. Anscomb | None | 1946 | 40 | 150 | Kootenay Lake (Balfour - Kootenay Bay) |
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D.E.V. Galena | None | 1968 | ~50 | Upper Arrow Lake (Shelter Bay - Galena) |
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M.V. Omineca Princess | None | 1983 | 34 | 200 | Francois Lake (Francois Lake - Southbank) |
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M.V. Shelter Bay | None | 1969 | 30 | 150 | Upper Arrow Lake (Shelter Bay - Galena) |
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MV Kulleet | K | 1972 | 26 | 150 | Albion Ferry Albion–Fort Langley |
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MV Klatawa | K | 1972 | 26 | 150 | Albion Ferry Albion–Fort Langley |
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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) |
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Arrow Park III | 2020 | 24 | 50 | Upper Arrow Lake (Hwy 6 - Arrow Park) |
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Glade II | 2017 | 10 | 48 | Kootenay River (Hwy 3A - Glade) |
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Harrop II | 2019 | 24 | 98 | Kootenay River (Longbeach - Harrop) |
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Needles | 1990 | 40 | 135 | Lower Arrow Lake (Needles - Fauquier) |
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Retired
Name | Thumbnail | Year | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity | Route served | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adams Lake | 8 | 12 | Adams Lake (Chase - Sorrento) |
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Glade | 1948 | 8 | 50 | Kootenay River (Hwy 6 - Arrow Park) |
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Harrop | 1961 | Kootenay River (Longbeach - Harrop) |
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Harrop | 1949 | 18 | 49 | Kootenay River (Longbeach - Harrop) |
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Arrow Park II | 1949 | 24 | 50 | Upper Arrow Lake (Hwy 3A - Glade) |
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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) |
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Little Fort | 2 | 12 | North Thompson River (Little Fort - Hwy 5) |
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Lytton | 2 | 18 | Fraser River (Lytton - Hwy 12) |
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McLure | 2 | 12 | North Thompson River (McLure - Hwy 5) |
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Usk | 2 | 12 | Skeena River (Usk - Hwy 16) |
External Links
- ↑ Kootenay Lake Ferry Service Improvements - New Vessel BC Government Inland Ferries, retrieved 10-06-2020.
- ↑ Adams Lake Ferry, BC Ministry of Transportation, retrieved 03/31/2018.
- ↑ [1]! BC Gov news, retrieved 04/09/2020.
- ↑ Glade Cable Ferry, BC Ministry of Transportation, retrieved 03/31/2018.
- ↑ New, built-in-B.C. ferries connect West Kootenay communities, BC Gov News, retrieved 03/31/2018.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Harrop & Glade Cable Ferries - Photos & Discussion, West Coast Ferries Forum, retrieved 03/31/2018.