Get West Adventure Cruises

Get West Adventure Cruises operates a passenger/freight service along the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC.

History

The company was founded in 1946 as the Barkley Sound Transportation Company Ltd. Originally, the company operated Uchuck I from Port Alberni to Ucluelet via Bamfield. Increased traffic required the purchase of Uckuck II in 1948, and the route was split, with Uchuck I operating from Port Alberni to Bamfield, and the larger Uchuck II operating from Port Alberni to Ucluelet on alternating days. After Uchuck III entered service in 1955, Uchuck II was shifted to the Bamfield route, and Uchuck I was laid up and later sold.

With the construction of a road connecting Port Alberni to Ucluelet and Tofino in the late 1950s, traffic dropped considerably. The two remaining vessels were moved north in 1960 to operate out of Gold River in Nootka Sound, with Uchuck III operating during the busier summer months, and Uchuck II operating in the off-season. Uchuck II was often chartered to other companies, and was sold in 1966 to the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, where it operated as the Sointula Queen connecting Port McNeill to Alert Bay and Sointula.

MV Uchuck III operates as a combination passenger/freight vessel. It serves many remote communities and logging camps along the western coast of Vancouver Island, providing freight and supplies, as well as transporting local residents. Sailings are also marketed to tourists, who can take a one to three day cruise departing from Gold River.

Routes

All routes operate out of Gold River, BC.

• Nootka Sound Day Cruise - Tuesdays, year-round
• Friendly Cove Day Cruise - Wednesdays/Saturdays, seasonal
• Kyuquot Adventure Cruise - Thursdays-Fridays, seasonal (Under contract from BC Ferries)
• Esperanza Adventure Cruise - Thursday-Saturdays, special sailings

Fleet

Current

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Capacity	Notes
MV Uchuck III		1942	100 passengers 70 tons cargo	Built in Oregon as a minesweeper. Purchased in 1951, converted and entered service in 1955.

Retired

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Capacity	Notes
MV Uchuck I		1941	64 passengers 9 tons cargo	Replaced original MV Uchuck. Laid up in 1955, sold in 1956 to precursor of Lady Rose Marine Services.
MV Uchuck II		1925	100 passengers 21 tons cargo	Ex-West Vancouver #6, purchased in 1948. Sold to Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1966 as Sointula Queen, operated until 1973.