False Creek Ferries
Encyclopedia
False Creek Ferries, a division of Granville Island Ferries Ltd, is a privately owned and operated ferry service that operates on False Creek
near downtown Vancouver
, Canada. The False Creek Ferry fleet has grown from the four electric ferries that formed the company to a fleet that now consists of 12 ferries divided into three classes; the 20-passenger Balfry class, the 12-passenger Spirit class, and the open-deck Novel class.
In 1982, False Creek Ferry Ltd was sold to George McInnis and George Pratt who incorporated the company as Granville Island Ferries Ltd and operated it as False Creek Ferries. The company began operations at the Aquatic Centre dock in the West End on August 1, 1983 with two newly-commissioned 12-passenger ferries, "Spirit of False Creek 1" and "Spirit of False Creek 2", which were built using designs by Jay Benford. These were the first two vessels of Benford's Spirit class. In 1984 the "Tymac II" was leased by False Creek Ferries for the newly created Maritime Museum run to Kitsilano pending completion of the remaining three Spirit class ferries, "Spirit of False Creek 3", "Spirit of False Creek 4" and "Spirit of False Creek 5".
In 1985, George Pratt sold his share in Granville Island Ferries to George McInnis. Following George Pratt's departure from Granville Island Ferries, his son Geoff Pratt incorporated Aquabus Ferries Ltd
to compete against Granville Island Ferries.
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Routes operate between the following locations:
The stops are served by three routes. Passengers wishing to use multiple routes may purchase a through fare for transferring at either the Granville Island or Aquatic Centre hubs.
False Creek
False Creek is a short inlet in the heart of Vancouver. It separates downtown from the rest of the city. It was named by George Henry Richards during his Hydrographic survey of 1856-63. Science World is located at its eastern end and the Burrard Street Bridge crosses its western end. False Creek is...
near downtown Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada. The False Creek Ferry fleet has grown from the four electric ferries that formed the company to a fleet that now consists of 12 ferries divided into three classes; the 20-passenger Balfry class, the 12-passenger Spirit class, and the open-deck Novel class.
History
Ferry service on False Creek was established in 1979 by Brian and Laura Beesley from Granville Island using four electric ferries. The ferries were 18 feet long and powered by 12 V rechargeable batteries. They were originally named after the Beesley's relatives: Alice May, Iris Maude, Nora Eileen and Juanita Dee. Today only two of the original four ferries remain in operation. The Alice May was renamed the Shelagh Mary and remains in the False Creek Ferries fleet and the Juanita Dee was sold to the Ganges Marina on Saltspring Island and renamed the Queen of De Nile.In 1982, False Creek Ferry Ltd was sold to George McInnis and George Pratt who incorporated the company as Granville Island Ferries Ltd and operated it as False Creek Ferries. The company began operations at the Aquatic Centre dock in the West End on August 1, 1983 with two newly-commissioned 12-passenger ferries, "Spirit of False Creek 1" and "Spirit of False Creek 2", which were built using designs by Jay Benford. These were the first two vessels of Benford's Spirit class. In 1984 the "Tymac II" was leased by False Creek Ferries for the newly created Maritime Museum run to Kitsilano pending completion of the remaining three Spirit class ferries, "Spirit of False Creek 3", "Spirit of False Creek 4" and "Spirit of False Creek 5".
In 1985, George Pratt sold his share in Granville Island Ferries to George McInnis. Following George Pratt's departure from Granville Island Ferries, his son Geoff Pratt incorporated Aquabus Ferries Ltd
The Aquabus
The Aquabus, also known as, Aquabus Ferries Ltd., is a privately owned and operated ferry service that provides commuter and sightseeing services to locations all along False Creek of central Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
to compete against Granville Island Ferries.
The Fleet
- The "Spirit Class" consists of five 12-passenger ferries designed by marine architect Jay Benford. The Spirit class has symmetrical superstructures that are 20 feet long with a beam of eight feet and a draft of two feet. Their hull speed is rated at six knots. Benford's 20-foot ferry design was intended for the False Creek Ferries and the ship of the line, the "Spirit of False Creek 1", was launched in 1982, followed closely by her first sister ship, "Spirit of False Creek 2", both built by Paul Miller in Coal Harbour. "Spirit of False Creek" 3, 4 & 5 were built by Independent Shipyards in Coombs, BC.
- Spirit of False Creek 1
- Spirit of False Creek 2
- Spirit of False Creek 3
- Spirit of False Creek 4
- Spirit of False Creek 5
- The "Balfry Class" consists of four 20-passenger ferries that were imported from California. The Balfry class are essentially enlarged versions of the Spirit class. With the exception of the "Spirit of False Creek 10", which was built in Richmond, BC in 2002, the Balfry class ferries were built in 1989 in Port Hueneme, California by marine architect Bob Lyon at Harbour Hopper Ferries.
- Spirit of Cy Balfry (flagship)
- Spirit of Nora O'Grady
- Spirit of George McInnis
- Spirit of False Creek 10
- The remaining four vessels in the fleet are open-deck vessels part of the "Novel Class": the original electric False Creek Ferry; the "Shelagh Mary", formerly known as the Alice May; the converted commercial lifeboat "Spirit of Ned"; and the two converted Canadian Navy lifeboats "Stanley 1" and "Stanley 2".
- Shelagh Mary
- Spirit of Ned
- Stanley 1
- Stanley 2
Stops and routes
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Routes operate between the following locations:
- Granville IslandGranville IslandGranville Island is a peninsula and shopping district in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in False Creek directly across from Downtown Vancouver's peninsula, under the south end of the Granville Street Bridge....
- Aquatic Centre - at Sunset Beach on English Bay near Thurlow Street at Beach Avenue in the West EndWest End, VancouverThe West End of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is on the downtown peninsula neighbouring Stanley Park and the areas of Yaletown, Coal Harbour and the downtown financial and central business districts....
- Maritime MuseumVancouver Maritime MuseumThe Vancouver Maritime Museum is a Maritime museum devoted to presenting the maritime history of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Canadian Arctic. Opened in 1959 as a Vancouver centennial project, it is located within Vanier Park just west of False Creek on the Vancouver waterfront. The main...
- at Vanier ParkVanier ParkVanier Park is a municipal park located in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is home to the Vancouver Museum, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the City of Vancouver Archives, and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.-History:...
in KitsilanoKitsilanoKitsilano is an upmarket neighbourhood on the West Side of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Known colloquially as "Kits", this neighborhood is home to many yuppies, young families and students as well as yoga studios, organic markets, cafes and Vancouver's Greektown. The primary... - YaletownYaletownYaletown is an area of Downtown Vancouver approximately bordered by False Creek, Robson, and Homer Streets. Formerly a heavy industrial area dominated by warehouses and rail yards, since the Expo 86, it has been transformed into one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the city...
Quayside Marina - at Davie Street and Marinaside Crescent - David Lam Park - in Yaletown at the foot of Homer Street.
- Stamp's Landing - near Monk McQueens restaurant and Leg-in-Boot Square
- Spyglass Place - near the Olympic Village2010 Olympic VillageFor the location of the Olympic Village in Singapore, see Nanyang Technological University or 2010 Summer Youth Olympics#Youth Olympic Village...
beneath the Cambie Street BridgeCambie Street BridgeThe Cambie Bridge is a six-lane symmetric, precast, varying-depth-post tension-box girder bridge spanning False Creek in Vancouver, British Columbia. The current bridge opened in 1985, but is the third bridge at the same location...
on the south shore - Plaza of NationsPlaza of NationsThe Plaza of Nations was an entertainment complex located on the northeast shore of False Creek in Vancouver, British Columbia.It was part of the British Columbia Pavilion during Expo '86, and along with Science World, Canada Place, and the Roundhouse Community Centre is one of the remaining...
- across from BC Place Stadium and the Edgewater Casion - Science WorldScience WorldScience World may refer to:*Science World , a magazine for children grades 6–10 published by Scholastic Corporation*ScienceWorld, a science website*Science World at Telus World of Science, a science centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
- across from the SkyTrainSkyTrain (Vancouver)SkyTrain is a light rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. SkyTrain has of track and uses fully automated trains on grade-separated tracks, running mostly on elevated guideways, which helps SkyTrain to hold consistently high on-time reliability...
Main Street-Science World StationMain Street-Science World StationMain Street – Science World Station is an elevated station on the Expo Line of the SkyTrain system in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
The stops are served by three routes. Passengers wishing to use multiple routes may purchase a through fare for transferring at either the Granville Island or Aquatic Centre hubs.
- Blue Line (Granville Island - Aquatic Centre)
- Red Line (Granville Island - David Lam Park - Stamp's Landing - Spyglass - Yaletown - Plaza of Nations - Science World)
- Yellow Line (Aquatic Centre - Maritime Museum)
See also
- AquabusThe AquabusThe Aquabus, also known as, Aquabus Ferries Ltd., is a privately owned and operated ferry service that provides commuter and sightseeing services to locations all along False Creek of central Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
- operates passenger ferries from Granville Island - English Bay LaunchEnglish Bay LaunchEnglish Bay Launch is a privately owned and operated water taxi service in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada, which replaced Granville Island Water Taxi Services in the Fall of 2009. It is one of three water taxi services connecting Bowen Island to Vancouver with regularly scheduled...
- operates water taxis from Granville Island