NAKUSP — Delays and slow passage times from Shelter Bay to Galena are about to be irritants of the past once the new ferry, shown here in an artist’s conception, is completed and launched from here into the Columbia River. Artist’s conception courtesy of WaterBridge Steel Inc.
By David F. Rooney
NAKUSP — Delays and slow passage times from Shelter Bay to Galena are about to be irritants of the past once the new ferry is completed and launched from here into the Columbia River.
Curious Revelstokians Peter Bernacki, Albert Van Goor, Chamber Executive Director and City Councillor Chris Johnston visited Nakusp to gauge the progress on the new $26.5 million ferry project that was awarded by the province to WaterBridge Steel Inc. in 2012.
“Everything is cut in Vancouver and shipped here for assembly,” WaterBridge owner John Harding told his visitors during a tour of the shipyard on March 28. “It’s quite efficient.”
He said the shipyard was erected right on the Upper Arrow at the the old Columbia Shake and Shingle Mill just off Highway 23S as you enter the village.
“It needed a lot of work to be transformed into a shipyard,” Harding said.
WaterBridge has hired 50 people for the project and the wages they earn are a godsend for the 1,500-person village of Nakusp. In the past ten years Nakusp has lost its Pope & Talbot logging operation and its summer music festival. Mayor Karen Hambling said those losses hurt the economy.
“This project means jobs and money we need in our economy,” she said.
This new ferry will be massive. The vessel will be 320 feet long, 64 feet wide and weigh approximately 2.5 million pounds or 1,100 metric tons. It will have a captain and a crew of five and will carry 80 cars at a time. The existing — and inadequate — MV Shelter Bay and MV Galena Bay can only carry 36 and 32 cars at a time.
“The Galena will be retained as a backup ferry,” Harding said.
“We have to be completely done by the May long weekend of 2014,” Harding said.
NAKUSP — Curious Revelstokians Peter Bernacki, Albert Van Goor, Judy Goodman of the Chamber of Commerce and City Councillor Chris Johnston joined Nakusp Mayor Karen Hamling (left) for a tour of the new $26.5 million ferry being built in the village by WaterBridge Steel Inc. The party was guided through the site by company owner John Harding (center, in the grey helmet). David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — Harding talks about how the pre-cut steel portions of the new ferry are shipped to WaterBridge’s waterside facility for assembly. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — The visitors ascend a stairway into the interior of the as-yet-unnamed vessel. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — Power cables, tools and and what not await the workers’ return from lunch. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — Harding tells his visitors about the project’s progress. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — This is the engine room. There will be two engines that power the ferry. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — From the engine room, the visitors climbed a ladder to the vehicle deck. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — This is the vehicle deck for the new ferry. When it is finally completed in July the vessel will be 320 feet long, 64 feet wide and weigh approximately 2.5 million pounds — that’s 1,100 metric tons. The tarp allows WaterBridge staff to work under all weather conditions. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — Mayor Hamling is justifiably pleased with the project. Not only does it harken back to the good ol’ days when Nakusp shipyards produced tugs, river boats and other craft but it is helping prop up a local economy bruised and battered by the recession, the demise of Pope & Talbot and tourism issues. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — The project has meant the creation of new jobs in the village. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — More portions need to be added to the bow and stern of the ship before it can be launched into the Columbia River. David F. Rooney photoNAKUSP — Inside this mockup of the new ferry’s bridge Harding (right) talks about the high-tech instrumentation that will be used by the captain and five-man crew of the vessel. Ditch that image of a ship’s wheel that’s doubtless floating before your mind’s eye. Harding says the helmsman will use joysticks. David F. Rooney photo
