MV Mill Bay
Encyclopedia
MV Mill Bay is a Canadian
ferry
. At 37.49 metres (123 ft) long, it is BC Ferries
' second smallest ship. It holds 16 vehicles (tied with the MV Nimpkish), 138 passengers and crew, and its maximum speed is 9 knots (17.6 km/h). The Mill Bay operated in the Brentwood Bay
-Mill Bay
route across Saanich Inlet
on Vancouver Island
.
. Initial service by the Cascade Freight and Trading Company was provided with a 22 year old 90 feet (27.4 m) wooden hulled coastal steamer the SS Cascade, which was altered to allow cars to drive on or off the bow and the stern. The Cascade underwent many more alterations over the years, including replacement of her steam engines with internal combustion engines,
and was eventually rechristened the Brentwood. Cascade Freight and Trading Company was bought by Coast Ferries Ltd. in 1945.
In the 1950s the more than 50 year old Brentwood was aging and in need of replacement. Coast Ferries Ltd. contracted out the construction of a new steel hulled ferry to the Victoria Machinery Depot
firm in Victoria
. On July 20, 1956 the Mill Bay entered service across the Saanich Inlet
route and for two years both the Mill Bay and the older Brentwood both crossed the inlet while the portion of the Island Highway
over the Malahat pass was being paved. In 1969 Coast Ferries Ltd. was bought out by BC Ferries
(that had formed in 1960). Thus Mill Bay is a vessel four years older than the company that currently runs her and is the oldest working ferry in the BC Ferries fleet.
The Mill Bay terminal was used for a scene during the filming of the 1970 movie Five Easy Pieces
that starred Jack Nicholson
and Karen Black
.
On May 29, 1989 Mill Bay ran aground on the beach just south of the Mill Bay ferry terminal. No damage resulted and she was pulled safely back into deeper water. The subsequent investigation discovered that the captain at the time had fallen asleep since he had just participated in the Swiftsure Yacht Race
.
On July 5, 1989 the Mill Bay was crossing Saanich Inlet when a problem arose with the fuel line and the engine lost power. As the ferry drifted the fuel line was repaired and the ferry eventually made it to shore under her own power.
In 2000 BC Ferries proposed eliminating the service provided by the Mill Bay but local protest was strong enough to counter the proposal and preserve the service. In 2001 the Mill Bay was removed from service for two months in the summer to undergo refurbishment that included replacement of several sections of steel plating in the hull, extension of the bridge, and the addition of radar. In addition, the terminals in Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay were upgraded with all repairs to the terminals and vessel costing approximately $3.8 million (CAD
).
The 80th anniversary of the ferry route was celebrated on November 27, 2004 at the Brentwood Bay terminal and aboard the Mill Bay.
On February 1, 2005 three men fell into Brentwood Bay when their canoe
capsized.
Reacting to the incident the crew aboard the Mill Bay picked up two of the men and the third was picked up by the Brentwood Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary
.
Raymond J. Parker reported in 2009 that the Mill Bay was used by cyclists in a significant shortcut for a Vancouver Island 300 km bike route known as "Tsunami II".
The Mill Bay is powered by an L. Gardner and Sons model 8L3 straight-eight engine that generates 152 hp . She burns diesel fuel at the rate of 14 litres/hour (3.7 gallons/hour) and is the most fuel efficient active vessel in the BC Ferries fleet.
In a July 2007 report prepared for the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
on traffic capacity problems over the Malahat Drive it was noted that BC Ferries' 2000 study of the Mill Bay service noted it was uneconomical. The provincial government has assured service through 2011, but BC Ferries is reported to be looking to sell service fulfillment on the route to another provider.
In a February 24th, 2011 BC Ferries news release, the MV Mill Bay was put up for sale. The news release states that the route will be closed from May 2 – 31, 2011, and will be serviced by the MV Klitsa beginning June 1, 2011.
The fuel rebate for fares aboard the Mill Bay dropped from ten percent to five percent on January 25, 2010.
BC Ferries refers to the route served by the Mill Bay as "The Island’s Most Beautiful Shortcut".
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
. At 37.49 metres (123 ft) long, it is BC Ferries
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
' second smallest ship. It holds 16 vehicles (tied with the MV Nimpkish), 138 passengers and crew, and its maximum speed is 9 knots (17.6 km/h). The Mill Bay operated in the Brentwood Bay
Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
Brentwood Bay, is a small neighbourhood in the municipality of Central Saanich, on the Saanich Peninsula. It lies north of the city of Victoria and south of Sidney on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Situated on the Saanich Inlet, it includes the Butchart Gardens, the Victoria Butterfly...
-Mill Bay
Mill Bay, British Columbia
Mill Bay is a commuter town of about 3,200 people located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada about north of Victoria, the capital.Mill Bay was founded in the 1860s with lumber and milling as its primary industries, done at the mill on the bay...
route across Saanich Inlet
Saanich Inlet
Saanich Inlet is a body of salt water that lies between the Saanich Peninsula and the Malahat highlands of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Located just northwest of Victoria, the inlet is 24 km long , has a surface area of 65 km2 , and its maximum depth is 225 m . Great...
on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
.
History
The Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay ferry started operation in November 1924 by two former naval officers, Kennaird and Williams, and it is the oldest continuous ferry service on the coast of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Initial service by the Cascade Freight and Trading Company was provided with a 22 year old 90 feet (27.4 m) wooden hulled coastal steamer the SS Cascade, which was altered to allow cars to drive on or off the bow and the stern. The Cascade underwent many more alterations over the years, including replacement of her steam engines with internal combustion engines,
and was eventually rechristened the Brentwood. Cascade Freight and Trading Company was bought by Coast Ferries Ltd. in 1945.
In the 1950s the more than 50 year old Brentwood was aging and in need of replacement. Coast Ferries Ltd. contracted out the construction of a new steel hulled ferry to the Victoria Machinery Depot
Victoria Machinery Depot
Victoria Machinery Depot Ltd. was a ship builder located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.This was a historic metalworks and shipyard in Victoria, Canada. From the late 1850s on, with the Fraser Canyon and Cariboo Gold Rushes British Columbia was dependent upon Californian supplies and ships...
firm in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. On July 20, 1956 the Mill Bay entered service across the Saanich Inlet
Saanich Inlet
Saanich Inlet is a body of salt water that lies between the Saanich Peninsula and the Malahat highlands of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Located just northwest of Victoria, the inlet is 24 km long , has a surface area of 65 km2 , and its maximum depth is 225 m . Great...
route and for two years both the Mill Bay and the older Brentwood both crossed the inlet while the portion of the Island Highway
Island Highway
The Island Highway is actually a series of highways that follows much of the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada....
over the Malahat pass was being paved. In 1969 Coast Ferries Ltd. was bought out by BC Ferries
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
(that had formed in 1960). Thus Mill Bay is a vessel four years older than the company that currently runs her and is the oldest working ferry in the BC Ferries fleet.
The Mill Bay terminal was used for a scene during the filming of the 1970 movie Five Easy Pieces
Five Easy Pieces
Five Easy Pieces is a 1970 American drama film written by Carole Eastman and Bob Rafelson, and directed by Rafelson. The film stars Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, and Susan Anspach. The cast also includes Billy 'Green' Bush, Fannie Flagg, Ralph Waite, Sally Struthers, Lois Smith, Toni Basil, and...
that starred Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
and Karen Black
Karen Black
Karen Black is an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She is noted for appearing in such films as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Great Gatsby, Rhinoceros, The Day of the Locust, Nashville, Airport 1975, and Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot...
.
On May 29, 1989 Mill Bay ran aground on the beach just south of the Mill Bay ferry terminal. No damage resulted and she was pulled safely back into deeper water. The subsequent investigation discovered that the captain at the time had fallen asleep since he had just participated in the Swiftsure Yacht Race
Swiftsure Yacht Race
The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is the premier long distance sailing race in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia area. Starting and ending in Victoria, BC, Canada, the Swiftsure is international because the mid-point markers are in U.S. waters...
.
On July 5, 1989 the Mill Bay was crossing Saanich Inlet when a problem arose with the fuel line and the engine lost power. As the ferry drifted the fuel line was repaired and the ferry eventually made it to shore under her own power.
In 2000 BC Ferries proposed eliminating the service provided by the Mill Bay but local protest was strong enough to counter the proposal and preserve the service. In 2001 the Mill Bay was removed from service for two months in the summer to undergo refurbishment that included replacement of several sections of steel plating in the hull, extension of the bridge, and the addition of radar. In addition, the terminals in Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay were upgraded with all repairs to the terminals and vessel costing approximately $3.8 million (CAD
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
).
The 80th anniversary of the ferry route was celebrated on November 27, 2004 at the Brentwood Bay terminal and aboard the Mill Bay.
On February 1, 2005 three men fell into Brentwood Bay when their canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
capsized.
Reacting to the incident the crew aboard the Mill Bay picked up two of the men and the third was picked up by the Brentwood Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary
Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary
The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary or CCGA is a Canada-wide volunteer marine association dedicated to marine search and rescue and the promotion of boating safety, through association with the Canadian Coast Guard under the auspices of Canada's National Search and Rescue Program.-History:Coastal...
.
Raymond J. Parker reported in 2009 that the Mill Bay was used by cyclists in a significant shortcut for a Vancouver Island 300 km bike route known as "Tsunami II".
| position | name | years of service |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Engineer Chief Engineer In marine transportation, the chief engineer is a licensed mariner in charge of the engineering department on a merchant vessel. "Chief engineer" is the official title of someone qualified to oversee the entire engine department; the qualification is colloquially called a "chief's... |
Bert Clow | 1924 – 1964 |
| Chief Engineer | Wilf Hankin | 1951 – 1993 |
| Captain Captain (nautical) A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag... |
John Deacon | 1945 – 1969 |
| Captain | W. Glenn (Red) Ryder | 1956 – 1987 |
Present day
Mill Bay is equipped with three lanes for cars, two with no height restriction and one lane that passes under the superstructure for the wheelhouse. Since the trip across the inlet takes only 20 minutes Mill Bay does not have very many amenities. She does have restrooms for passengers but they are not accessible to handicapped persons.The Mill Bay is powered by an L. Gardner and Sons model 8L3 straight-eight engine that generates 152 hp . She burns diesel fuel at the rate of 14 litres/hour (3.7 gallons/hour) and is the most fuel efficient active vessel in the BC Ferries fleet.
In a July 2007 report prepared for the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is the British Columbia government ministry responsible for transport infrastructure and law in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
on traffic capacity problems over the Malahat Drive it was noted that BC Ferries' 2000 study of the Mill Bay service noted it was uneconomical. The provincial government has assured service through 2011, but BC Ferries is reported to be looking to sell service fulfillment on the route to another provider.
In a February 24th, 2011 BC Ferries news release, the MV Mill Bay was put up for sale. The news release states that the route will be closed from May 2 – 31, 2011, and will be serviced by the MV Klitsa beginning June 1, 2011.
In Film
| Film | Year | References |
|---|---|---|
| Five Easy Pieces | 1970 | |
| Black Point | 2002 | |
| The Mermaid Chair The Mermaid Chair (film) The Mermaid Chair is a 2006 movie adapted from the book written by Sue Monk Kidd. It was directed by Steven Schachter and stars Kim Basinger, Alex Carter, and Bruce Greenwood. The movie was filmed in British Columbia Canada... |
2006 | |
The fuel rebate for fares aboard the Mill Bay dropped from ten percent to five percent on January 25, 2010.
BC Ferries refers to the route served by the Mill Bay as "The Island’s Most Beautiful Shortcut".