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 longest free scenic ferry carrying vehicles in the world.[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]
Balfour–Kootenay Bay
Kootenay Lake Balfour terminal
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]
Connecting the Kootenays: The Kootenay Lake Ferries
August 17, 2023
kootenay, lake, ferry, ferry, across, kootenay, lake, southeastern, british, columbia, which, operates, between, balfour, west, side, lake, kootenay, east, side, osprey, 2000, balfour, vessels, used, osprey, 2000, kootenay, lakelocalebalfour, kootenay, baywate. 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 Kootenay Lake ferryThe Osprey 2000 on Kootenay LakeLocaleBalfour Kootenay BayWaterwayKootenay LakeTransit typePassenger and automobile ferryCarriesHwy 3AOperatorWestern Pacific MarineSystem length8 km 5 mi No of lines1No of vessels2No of terminals2Websitewww2 wbr gov wbr bc wbr ca wbr gov wbr content wbr transportation wbr passenger travel wbr water travel wbr inland ferries wbr kootenay lake ferryThe route is the longest free scenic ferry carrying vehicles in the world 2 The elimination of fares on the Tancook Island ferry in June 2021 made it the longest free passenger ferry route 3 Contents 1 Sternwheeler era 2 Balfour Kootenay Bay 3 See also 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External linksSternwheeler era EditA 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 Balfour Kootenay Bay Edit Kootenay Lake Balfour terminalIn 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 See also EditAdams Lake Cable ferry Arrow Park ferry Barnston Island Ferry Big Bar Ferry Francois Lake ferry Glade Cable ferry Harrop Cable Ferry Lytton Ferry Little Fort Ferry McLure Ferry Needles Ferry Upper Arrow Lake Ferry Usk FerryFootnotes Edit a b c Kootenay Lake Ferry www2 gov bc ca Kootenay Lake Ferry kootenaylake bc ca Kootenay Lake Chamber of Commerce Tancook Community News Ferry www tancookcommunitynews com 29 Jun 2018 Sternwheeler Companies of Kootenay Lake www touchstonesnelson ca a b c Chrononoly of Kootenay Lake www kootenay lake ca a b Fraser s Landing www kootenay lake ca Clapp 1991 pp 42 45 Clapp 1991 p 76 Clapp 1991 p 44 Carving the Western Path p 158 at Google Books a b Nelson Daily 3 Sep 2020 www thenelsondaily com a b Rossland News 1 Dec 2021 www rosslandnews com The Daily Colonist 22 Oct 1963 www archive org p 4 Clapp 1991 p 61 The Inland Ferry Osprey 2000 www nauticapedia ca RFP 12 06 2010 PDF www bcferries com p 6 4 Nelson Daily 14 Jul 2021 www thenelsondaily com New Kootenay Lake ferry completion delayed to 2024 www crestonvalleyadvance ca 22 Aug 2022 References EditClapp Frank A 1991 Ministry of Transportation and Highways Lake and River Ferries Ministry of Transportation and Highways ISBN 0 7726 1364 8 External links EditWestern Pacific Marine website Contractor that operates the ferry49 39 07 N 116 54 41 W 49 65196 N 116 911526 W 49 65196 116 911526 Connecting the Kootenays The Kootenay Lake Ferries Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kootenay Lake ferry amp oldid 1168508787, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
