Barnston Island (named after George Barnston, a clerk with Chief Factor McMillian when he founded Fort Langley in 1827) is a rural farming community with narrow roads and no public parking, public facilities, commerce or washrooms other than the Great Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) park at Surrey Bend.
If you are sightseeing, it is best to leave your vehicles in the free lot at Port Kells and walk or ride over.
It is located on the Fraser River at the bottom of 104th Street in Surrey. Take the 176th Avenue exit from the Trans Canada and heading north until you reach the T-intersection of 104th Street, then turn east for 1/2 km.
Schedule
The ferry service runs across Parsons Channel between Barnston Island and Port Kells. The crossing time is about 5 minutes one way.
The service is free and “on demand” basis, i.e. it is uninterrupted as/when river traffic warrants. The school bus gets boarding priority on school days.
Monday to Thursday: 6:15 am to 11:55 pm, Sunday: 6:15 am to 12:55 am
Capacity: 50 passengers / 6 passenger cars. When 6 vehicles are onboard, only 28 passengers can be carried
Pedestrians and Cyclists
Passengers and Cyclists are directed to wait in the appropriate pre-boarding areas and follow the instructions from the crew. Please be mindful of the vehicle traffic boarding and unboarding the ferry.
The principle of “first come, first transported” is adhered to. However, the Captain reserves the right to do a passenger and cyclist only crossing if the number of waiting pedestrians warrants such a dedicated crossing.
Children and Safety
Children must be accompanied by parents at all times. Bicycles must be walked on/off the ferry. Roller blades, skateboards and other forms of self -propelled devices are not permitted to be used on the ramps to/from the ferry.
Vehicle Restrictions
1. Weight
- For safety reasons, 40 tonnes ramp load restrictions are applicable on this ferry service.
- The Captain has the full authority to require a weight slip from highway weighing station if he or she feels that GVW might exceed the load restrictions.
2. Other vehicle restrictions and cautions
- All vehicles must be able to back on and off the ferry.
- Vehicles without valid license plates, engines cannot be shut down, dripping oil from their engine, transfer cases, axles or transmissions will not be carried.
- Any unlicensed vehicles (e.g. dirt bikes and ATV’s) must be transported on a licensed trailer or other licensed transport vehicle.
- The angle of the ferry ramp with the shore ramp may cause difficulties for low clearance vehicles and/or vehicles with low hanging mufflers. Western Pacific Marine Ltd. assumes no responsibility for the damages to any vehicles.
Dangerous Goods
Dangerous goods are transported separately. Any vehicle carrying more than one 5-gallon container of gasoline full or empty or more than 2 b ottles of welding gas will be transported separately as dangerous cargo.