![]() The Osprey 2000 on Kootenay Lake | |
Locale | Balfour−Kootenay Bay |
---|---|
Waterway | Kootenay Lake |
Transit type | Passenger and automobile ferry |
Carries | ![]() |
Operator | Western Pacific Marine |
System length | 8 km (5 mi) |
No. of lines | 1 |
No. of vessels | 2 |
No. of terminals | 2 |
Website | www2 |
The Kootenay Lake ferry is a ferry across Kootenay Lake in southeastern British Columbia, which operates between Balfour, on the west side of the lake, and Kootenay Bay, on the east side. The MV Osprey 2000 and the MV Balfour are the two vessels used. [1]
The route is the world's longest free scenic ferry which carries vehicles. [2] The elimination of fares on the Tancook Island ferry in June 2021, made it the longest free passenger ferry route. [3]
A number of companies operated ferries on the lake from the 1890s. [4] When the Canadian Pacific Railway completed a rail link between Procter and Kootenay Landing in 1930, sternwheeler service on the southern arm of the lake ended. [5] In 1931, the BC government chartered the SS Nasookin for the Main Lake crossing between Fraser's Landing and Gray Creek. The government acquired the vessel in 1933, modifying the upper decks for the route. [6] [7]
In 1947, the terminals were relocated to Balfour and Kootenay Bay. [6] Launched in 1946, the 40-vehicle, 150-passenger capacity MV Anscomb [8] served the route until 2000. [5] In 1960, the superstructure was raised to increase truck clearance. In 1972, the vessel was stripped to the car deck and completely rebuilt. [9] [10] In 2004, the decommissioned vessel sank while moored for renovations. [5]
The 28-vehicle, 150-passenger capacity MV Balfour [11] was launched in 1954. [12] After the October 1963 opening of the Salmo–Creston highway over the Kootenay Pass, ferry fares were eliminated the following month. [13] [14] Built by Kootenay Ferry Builders at Nelson, the 80-vehicle, 250-passenger capacity MV Osprey 2000 was launched and entered service in 2000. [15] Since 2004, Western Pacific Marine has been the service contractor. [16]
The free ferry operates under contract to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. A single vessel sails throughout the year, with ten departures from Balfour between 6:30am and 9:40pm, returning from Kootenay Bay between 7:10am and 10:20pm. The second vessel runs in summer only, providing an extra five crossings in either direction. The crossing is about 8 km (5 mi) in length and takes 35 minutes. [1] The Osprey 2000 normally handles the main service, while the smaller Balfour usually provides the additional summer sailings. [1]
In 2021, a realignment of Upper Balfour Road to eliminate a steep slope was completed, and a new washroom building was erected at the Balfour Terminal. [17] Under construction by Western Pacific Marine at Nelson, the 55-vehicle capacity replacement for the Balfour is designed with both diesel and electric motors. [12] Scheduled to enter service in 2024, the vessel will more than double the vessel capacity and will be fully converted to electric propulsion by 2030. [11] [18]
A ferry is a watercraft that carries passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water taxi or water bus.
Balfour is an unincorporated community in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The ferry terminal and former steamboat landing is on the north shore at the entrance to the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. The locality, on BC Highway 3A, is about 33 kilometres (21 mi) northeast of Nelson.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is the British Columbia government ministry responsible for transport infrastructure and law in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is currently led by Rob Fleming.
City of Ainsworth was a paddle steamer sternwheeler that worked on Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, Canada from 1892 to 1898.
The Moyie is a paddle steamer sternwheeler that worked on Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, Canada from 1898 until 1957.
The era of steamboats on the Arrow Lakes and adjoining reaches of the Columbia River is long-gone but was an important part of the history of the West Kootenay and Columbia Country regions of British Columbia Canada. The Arrow Lakes are formed by the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia. Steamboats were employed on both sides of the border in the upper reaches of the Columbia, linking port towns on either side of the border, and sometimes boats would be built in one country and operated in the other. Tributaries of the Columbia include the Kootenay River which rises in Canada, then flows south into the United States, then bends north again back into Canada, where it widens into Kootenay Lake. As with the Arrow Lakes, steamboats once operated on the Kootenay River and Kootenay Lake.
Robson is an unincorporated community in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The former steamboat landing and railway terminal is on the northeast side of the Columbia River. The residential area is off Broadwater Road, within the northwest part of Greater Castlegar.
Minto was a sternwheel steamboat that ran on the Arrow Lakes in British Columbia from 1898 to 1954. In those years of service, Minto had steamed over 3.2 million kilometers serving the small communities on Arrow Lakes. Minto and her sister Moyie were the last sternwheelers to run in regularly scheduled passenger service in the Pacific Northwest. The "Minto" class of sailing dinghies is named after this vessel.
The Nakusp was a sternwheel steamboat that operated from 1895 to 1897 on the Arrow Lakes of British Columbia.
The Needles Ferry is a cable ferry across Lower Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Linking Needles and Fauquier, the ferry, part of BC Highway 6, is by road about 135 kilometres (84 mi) southeast of Vernon and 57 kilometres (35 mi) southwest of Nakusp.
Marion was a small sternwheel steamboat that operated in several waterways in inland British Columbia from 1888 to 1901.
The Barnston Island Ferry is a ferry that runs across Parson's Channel between Barnston Island and Port Kells, Surrey, in Metro Vancouver.
Tarrys is an unincorporated community spanning both shores of the Kootenay River in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The location, on BC Highway 3A, is by road about 14 kilometres (9 mi) northeast of Castlegar, and 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Nelson.
Procter is an unincorporated community in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The former steamboat landing is on the south shore at the entrance to the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. By road and ferry, the locality is about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Nelson.
SS Kootenay was a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) wooden-hulled sternwheeler that serviced the Arrow Lakes in British Columbia, Canada from 1897 to 1919. She was a large freight and passenger steamship and the first in a series of CPR riverboats built for the Arrow Lakes.
Kuskanook was a wooden, stern-wheel driven steamboat that operated on Kootenay Lake, in British Columbia from 1906 to 1931. After being taken out of service, Kuskanook was sold for use as a floating hotel, finally sinking in 1936. The vessel name is also seen spelled Kooskanook.
International was a stern-wheel driven steam boat that operated on Kootenay Lake in British Columbia from 1896 to 1908. International was owned by a Canadian subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway and was involved in sharp competition, including steamboat racing, with similar vessels owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Nasookin was a sternwheel-driven steamboat that operated on Kootenay Lake in British Columbia from 1913 to 1947. Nasookin was one of the largest inland steam vessels ever to operate in British Columbia and the Columbia River and its tributaries. Nasookin became surplus to its original owner, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was transferred to the British Columbia Provincial government which used it as an auto ferry until 1947. Negligent mooring of the steamer in 1948 led to irreparable damage to its hull, and it was later scrapped. Portions of the upper works were salvaged and used as a house.
The Upper Arrow Lake Ferry is a ferry across Upper Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Linking Shelter Bay and Galena Bay, the ferry, part of BC Highway 23, is by road about 52 kilometres (32 mi) south of Revelstoke and 47 kilometres (29 mi) north of Nakusp.
The Harrop Ferry is a cable ferry at Harrop Narrows on the west arm of Kootenay Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The crossing, off BC Highway 3A, is by road about 27 kilometres (17 mi) northeast of Nelson and 7 kilometres (4 mi) west of Balfour.