Boaters traversing Baynes Sound between Vancouver Island and Denman Island need to be aware of the ferry cable – the Baynes Sound Connector – operating there now and the regulations pertaining to its operation.
“While there are over 65 cable ferries operating in Canada, and several hundred in operation worldwide, the cable ferry system is new to vessel operators in the Baynes Sound area,” said Captain Jamie Marshall, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Fleet Operations. “We want to take the necessary steps to ensure that boaters and commercial operators know that they cannot cross in front of or behind the cable ferry while it is in transit.”
Red and green LED lights have been installed at both the Buckley Bay and Denman West terminals. For the safety of everyone on the water, when the Baynes Sound Connector is in transit, solid red lights will be illuminated, which signify the ferry is in transit.
Navigation Protection Act regulations indicate, “No person in charge of a vessel shall navigate the vessel across a ferry cable when the red lights are illuminated at the on-shore terminal ends of the cable ferry.” The illumination of solid green lights signifies it is clear to transit.
The cable ferry uses a drive wheel system to pull it along submerged cables that are deployed between two berth locations. The cable ferry operates with one ‘drive’ cable and two ‘guide’ cables. The cables rest on the bottom and are raised near the surface as the ferry transits the sound. One small engine provides hydraulic power to the cable drive system to spin the two bullwheels moving the drive cable.
“Safety is BC Ferries’ first priority and we’re asking all marine traffic in the area to become familiar with the Ferry Cable Regulations,” said Marshall. BC Ferries has produced a poster with accessible information about the regulations, which will be placed in a number of public locations, and can also be found on BC Ferries’ website at http://www.bcferries.com/about/projects/cable-ferry.html.
For more information regarding the Ferry Cable Regulations and the Navigation Protection Act, boaters and others can also visit justice.gc.ca.
Once the cable ferry begins operation, it will provide customers the same level of service as the current vessel, the Quinitsa. The Baynes Sound Connector will sail on the same schedule as the Quinitsa, capable of carrying 50 vehicles and 150 passengers.
Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.
