SeaBus
The SeaBus is a passenger-only ferry service operated by TransLink in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, providing a vital link across Burrard Inlet between Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.[1] The 12-minute crossing integrates seamlessly with the region's SkyTrain, bus, and pedestrian networks, offering frequent sailings as part of the public transit system and serving both commuters and tourists with scenic views of the city skyline and coastal waters.[1] In 2024, the service recorded approximately 5.9 million boardings, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous year and underscoring its role in sustainable urban mobility.[2] Launched on June 17, 1977, the SeaBus marked Metro Vancouver's first dedicated passenger ferry transit, initially operated by BC Hydro before transitioning to TransLink's predecessor agencies and fully under TransLink since 1999.[3] It was conceived to alleviate growing road congestion across the inlet, with the inaugural vessels—Burrard Otter and Burrard Beaver—each accommodating up to 400 passengers and painted in a distinctive orange livery.[3] Over the decades, the service has evolved into a cornerstone of the Frequent Transit Network, with peak-hour frequencies of every 10 minutes since 2019 and all-day 15-minute intervals, operating from early morning until late night seven days a week.[3] By 2007, it had carried over 94 million passengers, contributing to reduced reliance on private vehicles in a region prone to traffic bottlenecks.[4] The current fleet comprises four vessels, each designed for high-volume service with a capacity of up to 395 seated passengers plus standing room, ensuring reliability during rush hours and events.[1] These include the veteran Burrard Beaver (built 1976, refitted multiple times), Burrard Pacific Breeze (2009), Burrard Otter II (2014), and the newest Burrard Chinook (2021), which features an Indigenous-inspired art wrap honoring Pacific salmon and Squamish Nation connections.[5] Terminals at both ends are equipped with accessibility upgrades, including elevators, escalators, and seismic reinforcements completed between 2018 and 2023, alongside Indigenous art installations that reflect local cultural heritage.[6] Onboard amenities like free Wi-Fi (since 2016) and fare payment via contactless Compass Cards enhance user experience, while the service requires a 1- or 2-zone fare depending on time and direction.[3][7] Looking ahead, TransLink is investigating electrification of the fleet to cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 85% and save more than 500,000 liters of diesel annually, aligning with broader sustainability goals under the Transport 2050 plan.[3] The SeaBus not only facilitates daily commutes but also boosts tourism, occasionally offering sightings of marine life like orcas, and remains a symbol of innovative, eco-friendly transit in one of Canada's densest urban corridors.[8]Route and Operations
Route Description
The SeaBus operates as a passenger ferry service traversing Burrard Inlet, connecting Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver over a distance of 3.24 km (1.75 nautical miles).[9] The route provides a direct aquatic link between these urban centers, facilitating efficient cross-inlet travel without reliance on road infrastructure.[1] At both terminals, the SeaBus integrates seamlessly with Metro Vancouver's broader public transit network operated by TransLink. Waterfront Station serves as a major hub, offering transfers to the Expo and Canada Lines of the SkyTrain rapid transit system, the [West Coast Express](/page/West Coast Express) commuter rail, and numerous bus routes.[1] Similarly, Lonsdale Quay connects to extensive bus services in North Vancouver, enhancing regional connectivity for commuters and visitors alike.[1] As a dedicated passenger-only service launched on June 17, 1977, the SeaBus fulfills a vital urban crossing function by circumventing the congestion of road and bridge traffic across Burrard Inlet.[3] This ferry link has remained a cornerstone of the region's transit system, emphasizing reliable water-based mobility.[1]Schedule and Frequency
The SeaBus operates daily, with service commencing in the early morning and extending into the late night on weekdays and weekends. On Mondays through Fridays, the first departure from Lonsdale Quay is at 5:47 a.m., with the first from Waterfront Station at 6:01 a.m.; the last sailing from Lonsdale Quay departs at 1:00 a.m., and from Waterfront at 1:22 a.m. Saturdays follow a similar pattern, starting at 6:02 a.m. from Lonsdale Quay and 6:16 a.m. from Waterfront, ending at 1:00 a.m. and 1:22 a.m., respectively. Sundays and holidays have reduced hours, with the first departures at 8:02 a.m. from Lonsdale Quay and 8:16 a.m. from Waterfront, and the last at 11:02 p.m. and 11:16 p.m.[1] Service frequency varies by time of day and day of the week to accommodate peak commuting demands. On weekdays, sailings occur every 10 minutes during morning peak (7:15–9:45 a.m.) and evening peak (3:15–6:45 p.m.), every 15 minutes during most off-peak daytime hours (6:01–7:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m.–3:15 p.m., and 6:45–9:16 p.m.), and every 30 minutes late evenings (9:16 p.m.–1:22 a.m.). Saturdays feature 30-minute intervals in the early morning (6:16–7:16 a.m.) and late evening (9:16 p.m.–1:22 a.m.), with 15-minute service during the day (7:16 a.m.–9:16 p.m.). On Sundays and holidays, frequencies are every 15 minutes from 8:16 a.m. to 9:16 p.m., shifting to 30 minutes thereafter until 11:16 p.m.[1] At each terminal, vessels typically undergo a 12-minute turnaround to allow for passenger loading and unloading, enabling efficient scheduling. Service reliability is high, but schedules may be adjusted in response to severe weather conditions, such as high winds or flooding, or for special events and maintenance, with real-time updates provided via TransLink alerts.[10][11]Terminals and Infrastructure
Waterfront Station
Waterfront Station, located at 601 West Cordova Street in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, functions as the primary southern terminal for the SeaBus, serving as the endpoint for the route connecting to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.[12] As a key intermodal transportation hub, it integrates seamlessly with the Expo Line and Canada Line SkyTrain networks, the West Coast Express commuter rail service, and dedicated SeaBus platforms, facilitating efficient transfers for passengers across multiple transit modes.[1] The terminal provides essential amenities for commuters, including sheltered waiting areas with seating, automated ticketing machines for Compass Cards and fares, and accessibility features such as elevators, escalators, and ramps to accommodate diverse mobility needs.[6] These facilities support high passenger volumes, with the station handling nearly 20,000 weekday SeaBus riders as of 2019, emphasizing its role as a vital gateway to downtown Vancouver.[6] In 2023, Indigenous art installations and signage in local First Nations languages were added to the terminal, featuring works by Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh artists to promote cultural heritage and language revitalization.[13] Significant upgrades to enhance seismic resilience and accessibility commenced in spring 2018 as part of TransLink's maintenance program, involving a $17 million investment to retrofit the 42-year-old structure against earthquakes and improve passenger flow.[14] Key improvements included installing a new elevator and replacing an existing one to double capacity, adding four new escalators, constructing a new staircase, and upgrading ramps and the east parking lot entrance for better access; these works were completed in spring 2020.[6] As of November 2025, ongoing enhancements include the replacement of the original 40-year-old Expo Line elevator with a higher-capacity model, expected to finish in spring 2026, further bolstering accessibility.[15]Lonsdale Quay
Lonsdale Quay serves as the northern endpoint of the SeaBus route, connecting North Vancouver to downtown Vancouver across Burrard Inlet. Located at 151 Esplanade in the City of North Vancouver, the terminal functions as a key transit hub with an adjacent off-street bus loop spanning 40,048 square feet.[16] This loop supports multiple North Vancouver routes, including R2 to Marine Drive, 228 to Lynn Valley, 229 to Lynn Valley, 230 to Upper Lonsdale, 231 to Harbourside, 236 to Grouse Mountain, 249 to Delbrook, and N24 to Lynn Valley during late-night hours when SeaBus service is unavailable.[1][17] The terminal is situated next to the Lonsdale Quay public market at 123 Carrie Cates Court, providing seamless access to shops, restaurants, and vendors for arriving passengers. Surrounded by commercial, residential, and professional office developments—including the ICBC head office above—the site emphasizes community integration on the North Shore.[18][16] The floating SeaBus terminal features two docking berths, enabling simultaneous arrivals and departures of vessels to maintain efficient service frequencies.[19] In 2018, the terminal underwent renovations as part of a $12.5 million project, including a new roof, metal cladding, new windows, and renovated public washrooms—the only dedicated facilities on Metro Vancouver's transit network.[20] The adjacent bus exchange received further upgrades in 2020 to improve customer experience and support service growth.[21] In 2023, Indigenous art installations and signage in local First Nations languages were added, featuring works by Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh artists.[13] Key amenities include a covered canopy over the walkway to the bus loop, expanded seating areas, improved illumination, new site furnishings, a security kiosk, and enhanced wayfinding signage. Pedestrian paths connect the terminal to the exchange, though access is somewhat constrained by guard rails and a faded painted crosswalk. Bike storage options consist of three uncovered racks within the facility and one additional rack near the quay, with ongoing explorations for expanded secure storage to support multimodal travel.[22][16] The terminal's design facilitates integration with local events, such as the public market's weekend operations, allowing passengers to easily combine transit with shopping and cultural activities. As of 2025, the site is slated for redevelopment announced in 2024, including demolition of the bus exchange and ICBC building to create hundreds of new homes near transit, with planning ongoing to preserve SeaBus access.[23]Fleet
Current Vessels
The SeaBus fleet consists of four active catamaran passenger ferries, each designed to transport commuters across Burrard Inlet between Waterfront Station in Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. These vessels are owned by TransLink and operated by its subsidiary, Coast Mountain Bus Company, ensuring reliable service with built-in redundancy to handle peak demand and maintenance schedules.[24][3] The current vessels include the MV Burrard Beaver, which entered service in 1977 after being constructed in 1976 by Yarrows Shipbuilders Limited in Victoria, British Columbia, as one of the original pair that launched the SeaBus operation. The MV Burrard Pacific Breeze, built in 2009 by Washington Marine Group in Esquimalt, British Columbia, joined the fleet to replace aging infrastructure and enhance capacity. The MV Burrard Otter II, constructed in 2013 and entering service in 2014 by Damen Shipyards Group in Singapore, succeeded the original MV Burrard Otter to modernize the fleet while maintaining operational continuity. Most recently, the MV Burrard Chinook, built by Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands and entering service on July 22, 2021, completed the quartet, allowing for the retirement of the original MV Burrard Otter in prior years to sustain a consistent fleet of four vessels.[25][26][27][28]| Vessel Name | Build Year | Builder | Entry into Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV Burrard Beaver | 1976 | Yarrows Shipbuilders Limited | 1977 | Original vessel; aluminum catamaran hull. |
| MV Burrard Pacific Breeze | 2009 | Washington Marine Group | 2009 | Replacement for early fleet; aluminum catamaran hull. |
| MV Burrard Otter II | 2013 | Damen Shipyards Group (Singapore) | 2014 | Modernized design; aluminum catamaran hull. |
| MV Burrard Chinook | 2019 | Damen Shipyards (Netherlands) | July 22, 2021 | Newest addition; aluminum catamaran hull, includes Indigenous art installation. |