BC Highways - Highway 17 North

Highway 17 meets the ferry at Swartz Bay, and then at Tsawwassen continues north to Ladner and Highway 99.
		Positioning into the line up. There are two blocks of a lineup as there is with Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay, as this route to the Mainland as does the Nanaimo-Horseshoe Bay route uses multidecked ferries. Vehicles to the Gulf Islands are placed on the eastern side of the terminal. The terminal has food facilities, plus street type vending kiosks. Ferries sail from here every hour from 7 AM to 10PM during the summer to the mainland.
Proceed to Lane 17.

		While waiting for the ferry to Tsawwassen, have a look at BC Ferries' video presentation "Life of the Coast This Year", a look at BC Ferries' activities over the past year. Film length is about 7 minutes. Click on the Jumbotron at left and video will open into your Windows™ Media Player and will begin playing. Close the Media player when the film has completed. Best viewed with high speed internet (ADSL, DSL, Cable or higher connection provisions). Disclaimer: Provided for visitor information purposes only. BC Ferries does not endorse nor support this website. No fee or any other consideration was paid for placement of this video by BC Ferries. Video orignates from BC Ferries webserver. "Life on The Coast" Copyright © 2005 BC Ferries Corporation. Title is provided for video identification purposes. Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.
		Queen of Vancouver arrives from Tsawwassen. The Queen of Vancouver was originally completed in 1962. Internal wing decks were added in the 1960's to add two additional centre lanes of space.In the 1970's this vessel, and three others were cut in half in the centre (amidships) seperated and an 80 foot extension set into place and then reassembled to make the ship as long as pictured. In the 1980's the Vancouver and the other three vessels again went under the torch, but this time the vessels was cut lengthwise and lifted up 18 feet to provide an upper car deck that can be seen.
		Driving aboard the Queen of Vancouver.
		Inside the cavernous hull. The wing decks are on hydraulic lifts and form the ceiling you see. They are brought down if needed and use retractable steel ramps. The wing decks are only used for vehicles of up to 6 to 7 feet in height, and are used for cars only. Usally the centre wing deck is used, so that the outer lanes can be used by overheight vehicles such as large trucks and buses. Queen of Vancouver can carry up to 338 cars.
		Welcome Aboard! Queen of Vancouver
		On a lazy summer afternoon, the best thing to do on a day like this is to score space on a lifejacket locker and grab some sun. Most of the passengers are out of deck on warm sunny days like this one. The Queen of Vancouver is underway to Tsawwassen. On the port hand (left) and ahead is Saltspring Island.
		Sailing through some of the Gulf Islands. The Gulf Islands receive very little rain during the summer, and the usually calm waters are a magnet for pleasure boats of all kinds.
		Looking aft towards the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. This is about 5 minutes into the cruise.
		On the port hand is the ferry to Saltspring Island, the Skeena Queen. The ferry is a new one, having been built in 1996, but suffered engine problems soon after launch, and the engines were replaced, but still under warranty. The Skeena Queen carries 100 cars, and is of a new commuter ferry design.
		Looking out from the starboard hand is this view eastward towards the San Juan Islands in the United States.
		On the starboard quarter is this view towards the northeast of North Pender Island. The white dot is a ferry that sails between the Gulf islands and Swartz Bay.
		On the port quarter is this view looking northwest along the eastern shoreline of Saltspring Island with Galiano and Mayne Island in the distance. This is Swanson Channel, a high traffic area of ferries, small ships, and pleasure boats, both sail and power of all kinds.
		On the starboard hand, the Mayne Queen sails towards Swartz Bay. The Mayne Queen has been a fixture in the Gulf Islands since being placed into service in 1965. The Mayne Queen is one of two similar ships and carries 70 vehicles.
		Looking aft in a southerly direction along the eastern shoreline of Saltspring Island along Swanson Channel. In the distance, the higher ridges of Vancouver Island can be seen on the right.
		The route soon enters the spectacular channel of Active Pass at Helen Point.On the port hand (left) is Galiano Island. On the starboard hand (right) is Mayne Island. At this location in 1970, a collision occured between a Russian freighter and one of B.C. Ferries' larger ships. The Russian ship tore into the ferry almost half way. The freighter was found to be at fault.There were three fatalities and many injuries and over $1 million (in 1970 dollars) in damages New procedures called for signalling approach into the channel by ships horn (and a distinct echo will be heard) and maintaining a sharp look out and position reporting via radio. The pass has strong tidal currents.
		Turning aft is this southerly view of the entrance to Active Pass at Helen Point. Active Pass is a magnet for salmon fishing, so one eye on the boat and the surrounding area, plus another on rod and reel are the routine.
		Standing by anchors. The deckhand is unlocking the anchors, in case they may be needed to quickly stop the ship. After passage, the anchors are locked. During the passage through Active Pass, the deckhand will stand in this location to be a lookout.
		A distant distinct ships horn echo will be heard, and in a few minutes a ferry will pass on the port hand. This is the Queen of Saanich, completed in 1963, and identical to the Queen of Vancouver in every respect.
		Georgina Point Lighthouse on Mayne Island. Typical of Canadian Coast Guard facilities, the light can be seen from 12 nautical miles out. It is manned by two live in families.
		Once out of Active Pass, the ferry begins to steam across the Strait of Georgia towards Tsawwassen. Galiano Island is on the right, Mayne Island is on the left.
		Looking off the port quarter towards the north is this view of the rather unsually beign waters of the Strait of Georgia. In the distance are the north shore mountains of Vancouver. These waters are not usually this calm, and most often are often to two foot seas. In winter 4 to 6 foot seas are not uncommon, and there have been many occaisions where ferries have been cancelled because of severe sea conditions.
		The Spirit of British Columbia settles into its cruise towards Swartz Bay. The pride and flagship of BC Ferries, the Spirit of British Columbia was finished in 1993 along with a similar ship, the Spirit of Vancouver Island. Both are the largest ships in the fleet, each carrying 470 cars.
		Technically because of geography, the Queen of Vancouver is now in United States waters. The international boundary extends along 49 degrees north to the centre of the Strait of Georgia and then follows the centre of the strait southeast. In the distance is the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, with on the left or east is Point Roberts, Washington.
		A view of the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal. Completed in 1959, the terminal is one mile out into the strait because of the low laying mud flats around it. Essentially following the line of structures in the water from left to right will provide an approximate position of the Canada - U.S. boundary.
		Disembarking from the Queen of Vancouver at Tsawwassen.
		Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. Actually an artificial island connected to the mainland, the terminal has since 1959 undergone three major expansions of its surface area. The terminal is very exposed to the elements, and there are times in winter where it is best not to get out of the car and walk around to check out the view.

		Transition Check Tsawwassen Causeway begins. This causeway was built from seaward back to the mainland in 1959. It has since then undergone widening of the original two lane roadway. On the right (east) is English Bluff, the Canadian side of Point Roberts.
		Transition check - Tsawwassen Causeway Ends.
		From an earlier trip used to compose Highway 17 south on this web site is this view looking from the northbound side of the causeway south towards the U.S. and Point Roberts, Washington. The border lands at approximatly where the white building is in the middle of the picture.
		Turning towards the west from the same location as the previous picture is this view of the Roberts Bank Coal Port and container handling facility at Deltaport. The facility is part of the Port of Vancouver.
		Traveling north on Highway 17 from the northern end of the causeway.
		Transition begins 56th Street Ahead. 56th Street provides access to the town of Tsawwassen and continues south towards the border crossing at Point Roberts.
		Transition continues. To turn left and head south on 56th Street to Tsawwassen and to the border at Point Roberts, Click on this picture.
		Transition continues. Highway 17 continues north towards Highway 99 through farmland in south Delta.
Copyright (c) 2004 P. Keenleyside [ Legal and Terms of Use ] Terminal sign image with B.C. Ferries logo displayed for destination to BC Ferries website pages purposes only. This website is not endorsed by B.C. Ferries		Transition Ends. Highway 17 from Victoria Ends. Click on this picture to continue north on Highway 17 with connections to Highways 10 (to Highway 1 east), and Highway 99 North).