Barnston Island Ferry
LocaleSurrey and Barnston Island, British Columbia
WaterwayParson's Channel, Fraser River
Transit typePassenger and vehicle ferry
OwnerBC Ministry of Transportation
and Infrastructure
OperatorWestern Pacific Marine
No. of lines1
No. of vessels1
No. of terminals2
Websitewww2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/passenger-travel/water-travel/inland-ferries/barnston-island-ferry

The Barnston Island Ferry is a ferry that runs across Parson's Channel (on the south side of the Fraser River) between Barnston Island and Port Kells, Surrey, in Metro Vancouver.

History

In 1913, the Canadian Pacific Railway withdrew steamboat services on the Fraser, leaving the island farmers with no realistic way to transport their produce to market.[1] That year, a government wharf was built.[2]

In response to petitions from residents,[1] the government ferry began operating in May 1916.[3] This cable ferry had previously been used at the Pitt River crossing. However, floating driftwood and the underwater cable snagging fishing nets made the vessel unsuitable for the new location.[4]

The next year, the ferry underwent a complete overhaul. Services were suspended during the spring high water for six weeks, and during winter when ice floes were hazardous, which proved inconvenient for the transportation of milk, grain, hay and potatoes.[5]

Barnston Island Ferry is located in Greater Vancouver Regional District
Barnston Island Ferry
Location of the Barnston Island Ferry in Metro Vancouver

1918 upgrade

In 1918, the introduction of a gasoline boat, which pushed a small scow, enabled the carrying of passengers and limited produce.[4]

1921 upgrade

A larger gasoline launch was purchased in 1921.[6] Substandard road conditions meant this 12-metre (38 ft) former fishing boat circumnavigated the island to load milk churns at various collection points.[4] By 1927, the boat, which ran continuously during peak periods, was becoming old and inadequate.[7]

1930 upgrade

In 1930, the boat was replaced[8] and a larger barge built.[9] The 9.8-metre (32 ft) tug pushed the 11-metre (36 ft) barge, which could carry two vehicles.[4] This beginning of vehicle transportation[10] reflected increased vehicle numbers on the island and improved roads. After leaving the barge at the slipway, the tug continued to make a milk trip around the island.[4] By 1933, travel was free, but the year tolls were removed is unclear.[11]

When the river froze solid during winter, produce could be skated across the ice.[12] In the 1936–37 winter, the ferry was refloated after floating ice had rammed it against the island slip.[13] While the ferry was being overhauled, the upgrade service was limited to foot traffic.[14] That September, while backing a car at the mainland slip, a ferry worker drove into the river. After struggling to exit the submerged vehicle, he finally surfaced.[15]

1940 upgrade

In 1940, the new 11-metre (35 ft) wooden Barnston Island tug replaced the obsolete vessel. That year, the circumnavigation of the island ceased.[16] Operational hours were 7am to 7pm.[17][18]

In 1944, a new 4.9-by-16.5-metre (16 by 54 ft) two-truck capacity barge arrived, and an infill above the high-water mark shortened the island landing ramp.[19] In 1945–46, the island landing ramp received minor repairs and a seven-pile dolphin across the river was renewed.[20]

While the fast-flowing river rapidly rose during the Fraser flood of 1948, 35 families, 500 head of cattle, 300 sheep, and numerous poultry, pigs and horses were evacuated on ferry barges adapted with additional railings to corral the livestock.[21] Bypassing the ferry slip then 4.6 metres (15 ft) below water, the B.C. Packers boat Salmon Prince also assisted in the evacuation.[22] In 1949, a freshet took out the island landing ramp, forcing the ferry to land on the beach for months.[23]

At least until the 1950s, a truck would cross on the ferry and pick up the milk churns daily from around the island for delivery to Dairyland. In 1951, the upended wreck of a ferry that sank years previously was destroyed with explosives.[24]

1954 upgrade

Ferry with Barnston Island in background, 2005

In 1954, a new 18 metres (60 ft) steel barge was built.[25] The Barnston Island No. 3 had a three-vehicle capacity.[26]

Ferry captain since 1930, Len Thompson retired in 1962.[27]

1963 upgrade

In 1963, the Barnston Island No. 1,[26] a 20-metre (66 ft) steel tug, replaced the wooden one, and the island landing was rebuilt.[28]

In 1984, Western Pacific Marine won the contract to manage the service.[26] The company started operating the service on April 1 of that year.[29]

Later vessels

The operator has used a series of similar tugs on the route, which included the Centurion V in the early 1990s.[26]

After the 2009 withdrawal of the Albion Ferry, the Barnston Island Ferry, the Lytton Ferry and the Big Bar Ferry became the last remaining free inland ferries on the Fraser. Residents have sought a bridge link for over one hundred years.[5][30]

Propelled by an attached tugboat, the barge[31] can carry up to 6 vehicles and 52 passengers, but when 6 vehicles are aboard, the residual capacity is 28 passengers.[32] The crossing time is usually five minutes. The ferry terminal landing is accessed from British Columbia Highway 1 by taking exit 53 into Port Kells, Surrey and proceeding to the end of 104th Avenue.[31]

The ferry operates under private contract with the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and is free of tolls, as are all inland ferries in British Columbia.[33] The operation is Transport Canada Marine Safety inspected annually and all crew members are Transport Canada certified. The crossing operates on-demand from 6:15 am to 11:55 pm (12:55 am weekends). River conditions may interrupt the service. The school bus has boarding priority on school days.[32]

Patronage

Recent years:[34]

Prior to 1960
Patronage (1922–1947)a (Double these numbers for single trips)
TypeYearPageRound
Trips		Motor
Vehicles		Horse-
drawn
rigs		PassengersFreight
(tons)		LivestockTotal
Vehicles
Gas boat1922–23C4001,9000012      2,669      32         12
1923–24L3801,307      8      3,919      63           8
1924–25Q3801,443      4,79600183
1925–26Q3801,789      5,15200196        63
1926–27P4602,744      7,92100175        73
1927–28U5202,846         390010,84700145        32         39
1928–29S60009630032      8,113      67      866         32
1929–30T7403,4960012,56400210      665
Gas boat & scow1930–31G5006.333002,85300380014,28701,871      194002,891
1931–32M4004,927002,9990111      8,89701,036      102003,110
1932–33Q3604,500003,6580108      9,30700730      484003,766
1933–34O3205,671004,53800640011,04501,266      295004,602
1934–35T3706,278005,87600760013,19001,738      646005,952
1935–36I4407,267007,46300970015,92402,308      507007,560
1936–37X5207,382008,13100840016,29003,553      462008,215
1937–38X5507,591008,04100580016,62702,344      371008,099
1938–39Z5607,496008,50800810016,82402,526      310008,589
1939–40P5607,453007,93001410014,56602,005      512008,071
1940–41O4707,540007,97700340013,71602,279      498008,011
1941–42T5207,442010,2610046      9,50102,270      383010,307
1942–43O5206,567012,6050022      6,68802,540      452012,627
1943–44Q5206,010006,6300019      8,33002,814      583006,649
1944–45O5106,580012,1730010      8,11202,731      759012,183
1945–46Q5806,618011,5440010      8,42403,419      504011,554
1946–47P4705,568006,649      7      7,69202,338      237006,656

^a . Extracted from the respective Ministry of Public Works annual reports.


Patronage (1947–1960)b (Double these numbers for single trips)
TypeYearPageRound
Trips		Passenger
Autos		Passengers
(Drivers
excluded)		TrucksTrailers
& Semis		BusesMotor-
cycles		Horse-
drawn
rigs		Freight
(tons)		LivestockMisc.
Veh.		Total
Vehicles
Gas
boat
& scow		1947–48N5610,682      6,459      19,285007,825      350030005,441      619014,619
1948–49O6011,689      6,821      22,031009,042      56      800231      106,354001,855016,159
1949–50Q7411,656      7,789      23,669008.960        4      10025606,355      662017,010
1950–51N7712,5330010,225      24,842008.949      30001500432      306,918000500019,654
1951–52P8314,2030011,923      29,941010,68800118        9      509,271      5750011022,754
Tug
& scow		1952–53O8514,7360010,516      33,488013,13200201        607,936      6170024023,879
1953–54M9315,4930013,259      39,197012,01200172      1007,326      6940048025,501
1954–55K9516,5400013,606      38,941012,96100107        407,646      7280035026,713
1955–56N8817,0520016,908      38,421011,16200159      12      8740028028,269
1956–57J10016,3660016,200      36,064011,37300127        6      9080032027,738
1957–58G5318,4540018,536      54,751014,487001980013      60      768      6033,300
1958–59G3617,6540017,477      55,512014,324002350440      73      7010047032,596
1959–60F4119,7040019,407      64,727020,014001620918      95      6      5670060040,662

^b . Extracted from the respective Ministry of Public Works or Ministry of Highways annual reports.

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Clapp 1991, p. 46.
  2. ↑ "Govt. will construct new wharf at Nelson". Daily Building Record. 17 Dec 1913. p. 1 – via UBC Library.
  3. ↑ "Barnston Island Residents Welcome Transportation Aids". Vancouver Daily World. 25 May 1916. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com. With the government ferry between Hjorth Road put in operation last week…
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Clapp 1991, p. 48.
  5. 1 2 "Provincial Happenings". The Daily Colonist. 28 Oct 1917. p. 22 – via the Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ Public Works Annual Report 1921–22 (Report). Department of Public Works. September 30, 1922. p. 19 (G11) – via UBC Library.
  7. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1927–28 (Report). Department of Public Works. October 13, 1928. p. 23 (U13) – via UBC Library.
  8. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1929–30 (Report). Department of Public Works. December 16, 1930. p. 23 (T13) – via UBC Library.
  9. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1930–31 (Report). Office of Minister of Public Works. January 19, 1932. p. 9 (G7) – via UBC Library.
  10. ↑ Clapp 1991, p. 75.
  11. ↑ Public Works annual report, 1932–33 (Report). Office of Minister of Public Works. September 1, 1933. p. Q36 – via UBC Library.
  12. ↑ "New Westminster Market". Vancouver Sun. 14 Feb 1936. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com. Producers from Barnston Island….bringing their produce to the mainland on sleighs. Ferry services….suspended.
  13. ↑ "Ferry Jammed By Ice...". The Province. 5 Jan 1937. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com. BARNSTON ISLAND….Floating ice, which rammed the ferry against its slip here, tied up service for some time. It was refloated later, but in the meantime residents were forced to cross in rowboats…
  14. ↑ "Ferry repairs". Vancouver Sun. 14 May 1937. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Auto Goes In River But Driver Escapes". The Province. 25 Sep 1937. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Clapp 1991, pp. 48–49.
  17. ↑ "...At Barnston Island". The Province. 7 Nov 1940. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. An improved ferry service….at Barnston Island on the arrival….of the new 35-foot boat….constructed to carry….60 cans of milk. A great improvement over the old boat, which has been on the run for more than 10 years, is a spacious and comfortable cabin for passengers. This ferry is unique in the valley as it provides free accommodation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every week day.
  18. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1940–41 (Report). Office of the Minister of Public Works. September 30, 1941. p. 17 (O13) – via UBC Library.
  19. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1943–44 (Report). Office of the Minister of Public Works. November 8, 1944. pp. 29 & 68 (Q18 & Q51) – via UBC Library.
  20. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1945–46 (Report). Office of the Minister of Public Works. November 16, 1946. p. 24 (Q20) – via UBC Library.
  21. ↑ Bryant, Sue (3 July 2018). "HISTORY: Memories of 1948 Fraser River floods still run strong". Cloverdale Reporter – via Chilliwack Progress.
  22. ↑ "Lush Farms Make Lakes As Fraser Tears Dykes". The Province. 31 May 1948. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com. Ferry landing slips….the end of Hjorth Road, were under 15 feet or more of river water. The small ferry and the B.C. Packers boat Salmon Prince….helping the movement of dairy cattle from the island to the higher ground….
  23. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1948–49 (Report). Office of the Minister of Public Works. November 30, 1949. p. O20 – via UBC Library.
  24. ↑ "Obstruction Cleared at Barnston Island Slip". Surrey Leader. 29 Mar 1951. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com. ….public works department….blasting the old Barnston Island ferry scow which sank above the ferry slip. During….1948, the wreck upended and the resulting eddy has been causing considerable erosion….
  25. ↑ Public Works Annual Report, 1954–55 (Report). Office of the Minister of Highways. October 6, 1955. p. K27 – via UBC Library.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Clapp 1991, p. 49.
  27. ↑ "Former Barnston ferry captain dies at age 88". Surrey Leader. 22 May 1985. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com. Len Thompson….was the first skipper of the Barnston Island Island Ferry that carried vehicles. He held that position from July 1, 1930 to December 9, 1962…
  28. ↑ Highways Annual Report, 1963–64. www.open.library.ubc.ca (Report). p. C55.
  29. ↑ Minister of Transportation and Highways Report for the Fiscal Year 1984/85 (Report). Victoria: Government of British Columbia. 1985. p. 268. ISSN 0706-1897.
  30. ↑ Johnston, Jesse (5 Mar 2015). "Barnston Island residents want to see ferry replaced with a bridge". CBC News.
  31. 1 2 "Ferry to Barnston Island". www.ourbc.com.
  32. 1 2 "Barnston Island". www.westernpacificmarine.com.
  33. ↑ "Inland Ferries". www.gov.bc.ca.
  34. ↑ Courtesy of Marine Branch, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Sources

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