Highway 17 continues to Vancouver Island
via a 90 minute ferry crossing to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island.
The crossing is one of the busiest and features two of the largest
ships in the B.C. Ferry Fleet. The crossing
was the first one for B.C. Ferries, having opened to traffic in
1959.
The Tsawwassen Terminal is one mile from shore.
On the right is the toll booth centre.
Be sure to select your lane below and have your
credit card or cash ready.
Click on the plaque on the left to enter the market's website.
Use your back button to walk back to here and get into your car before the ferry starts loading.
Disclaimer: Provided for information and tourism purposes only.
Neither Tsawwassen Quay, Lonsdale Quay Market Corp, nor
BC Ferries endorse or support this website. No fee or any other consideration was paid for placement. Signage is for directional purposes only.
While waiting for
the ferry to Swartz Bay, 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.
The ship has three decks, a huge main deck that accomodates trucks and buses, two side decks for
small vehicles, and one top deck. Inside the ship has
a cafeteria, a buffet, giftshop/newsstand, and lots of
lounging areas. Most locations outside on deck are accessible to passengers for excellent views.
Spirit of Vancouver Island
Departing Tsawwassen Terminal. The terminal is one mile offshore connected by the causeway. The "island" has been enlarged twice since it was orginally built and the terminal reconfigured several times to accomodate traffic from the three ferry routes that land here.
Move your mouse onto the ship picture at left to hear a typical announcement heard at the start of the sail. The announcement is actually for the Spirit of B.C. which is the sister ship to the Vancouver Island.
The crossing here is deceptively calm. This is very exposed to northwest and southwest winds which means windy conditions in late fall to mid spring. In severe wind storms usually two or three a year lasting about a day or so, it is not uncommon to have sailings cancelled.
this view of Roberts Bank. Originally a coal port built in the 1970's, the facility had been upgraded in the late 1980's and into the 1990's to handle containerised cargo.
Ships from the Far East land here. The facility is built out about one and a half miles from shore.
Sturdies Bay is the landing point for Galiano Island.
Galiano Island is a long and narrow island which features many summer homes and a few permanent residents.
Many are permanent homes, but some summer homes are also here.
starboard hand (right), Mayne Island on the port hand
(left). The pass is an "S" shaped passage. It is
frequented by many small boats in summer.
The quartermaster of the ship will sound the horn twice to announce the presence of the ship in the passage. This has been required since a collision between a Soviet freighter and a B.C. Ferry occured in 1970 close to where the Spirit of B.C. can be seen in the picture.
Move your mouse over the water to sound the ship's
horn to transit Active Pass.
Southwest enterance to Active Pass. It was here a collision took place between a B.C. Ferry and a Soviet freighter in 1970.
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. After
the collision, 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.
Ahead is the picturesque Saltspring Island, the largest in surface area
of the Southern Gulf Islands.
The column of smoke on the right is from Crofton, where a large paper mill is located.
The mountains of Vancouver Island can be seen in the background.
another cruising opportunity, the passage between Mayne Island (left) and North Pender Island (right). This passage leads to Saturna Island which can be seen in the background.
terminal has undergone a number of alterations since to accomodate traffic. Three ferry routes originate from here, one to Tsawwassen, a second to Saltspring Island, and a third route serves Pender and Saturna Islands.
The Queen of Cumberland is departing to Saltspring Island. The larger ferry at dock is one used on the Tsawwassen route.
Click here to leave the ferry and continue to Victoria.