SeaBus
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The SeaBus is a passenger-only ferry service connecting downtown Vancouver and City of North Vancouver. The SeaBus is owned and operated by TransLink and is an important part of Greater Vancouver's integrated public transportation system.
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Ferry
- MV Burrard Otter (1976 - Vancouver) - seats 400
- MV Burrard Beaver (1976 - Victoria) - seats 400
Termini
The SeaBus stops on the Vancouver site at Waterfront Station, near the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre and cruise ship terminal at Canada Place. At Waterfront Station, there are connections to the SkyTrain and West Coast Express. In North Vancouver, the SeaBus stops at the purpose-built Lonsdale Quay, which in addition to serving many commuters has become an important tourist destination, with a hotel, public market, and bus loop.
Service
The ferries operate between approximately 6:00 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. daily. During the daytime Monday-Saturday (and on Sundays during summer months), both ferries operate, with the two ferries departing simultaneously from opposite termini and passing each other halfway. On weekdays over 50 crossings are made. On evenings and Sundays (except during summer months), one ferry operates. The crossing takes 10-12 minutes in each direction, with a 3-5 minute turnaround and therefore operates on a 15 minute turn-around schedule.
The SeaBus is capable of operating on a 12 minute turnaround (or even 10 minutes with simultaneous loading and unloading). However, at the higher speeds, the wake created disturbs other users of the Burrard Inlet. During overloads they do sometimes operate at the higher speeds.
Construction and Operations
The ferries are catamaran ferries constructed out of aluminium, which was quite rare at the time. The ferry is a double ended so it can go in either direction without turning around. There are two diesel engines in each hull (one for each end) and all four propellers operate at the same time, two pulling and two pushing. The engines are identical to the engines used by the diesel buses on the transit system. The ferry can operate with only three engines if required.
Except for an addition of more modern radar, the controls and electronics have not been modernized. With the radar, the ferries are able to operate in even the densest fog.
The original emergency procedure involved using the other SeaBus to evacuate passengers from the distressed SeaBus. Although the viability of this had been demonstrated, Transport Canada became concerned about this approach during times that the other SeaBus may not be available and has recently mandated the addition of life rafts.
As there are no spare ferries, all refits and upgrades have been done during a long weekend when they can maintain half hour service with one boat. Changing an engine and minor refits can be done during the out of service time overnight. Despite running for nearly three decades, the two ships are rarely taken out of service for maintenance, boasting a 99.99% service reliability. A record unparallelled in North America.
The ferries operate with four crew on board (Captain and First Mate on the bridge and two attendants on the passenger level) and engineers who stay ashore most of the time, but do regular checks of the engines and are available to come aboard at any time.
Ferry History
The first regular service between the City of North Vancouver and Vancouver began in 1900 with the craft North Vancouver. Three years later, the North Vancouver Ferry and Power Company was created, took over, and built a new craft called St. George. These two ferries were later renamed North Vancouver Ferry No. 1 and North Vancouver Ferry No. 2. The City of North Vancouver took over the service in 1908 to provide a more reliable ferry connection with Downtown Vancouver. Soon after, another craft, North Vancouver Ferry No. 3 was built. In 1936, the No. 2 was retired and used as a logging camp on the west coast of Vancouver Island until it was destroyed by fire.
In 1938, the Second Narrows Bridge (Lion's Gate Bridge) was completed and took away much business from the ferries, however, there was an increased demand with the onset of World War II because of the shipbuilding boom in North Vancouver. This growth in business spurred the creation of a new ferry, the North Vancouver Ferry No. 5, in 1941. The Crosline was also leased from Washington to meet demands. According to Capt. James Barr, 1943 was the busiest year that North Vancouver Ferries had, ferrying over 7 million passengers across the Burrard Inlet.
The ferries were in major decline by the 1950's. In 1948 the No. 3 was taken off of regular service and was sold in 1953. The cost of operating the ferries was too high and in 1958 and the last sailing took place on August 30th by the No. 4 ferry. The No. 4 was later sold to be used in Prince Rupert and the No. 5 was converted into the Seven Seas Restaurant at the foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver. It remained there until 2002 when the City of North Vancouver and the federal courts had it demolished after a long standing dispute who would be responsible if it sank and concern that the hull was in danger of immanent collapse. In dry dock it proved to be quite sound, but at that point the decision had already been made to scrap it and a piece of heritage was lost.
The current ferries began operating the same route in 1977. The SeaBus system was built with money originally slated for a proposed (and quashed) freeway crossing across Burrard Inlet.
Translink has budgeted the building of a third SeaBus by 2009 as part of its 10 year plan.
References
- MV Burrard Otter facts (http://www.geocities.com/ferries_bc/profiles/passenger/tlk_botter.html)
- MV Burrard Beaver facts (http://www.geocities.com/ferries_bc/profiles/passenger/tlk_bbeaver.html)
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