Alternative transportation options outlined as Lax Kw'alaams Ferry in refit

The Spirit of Lax Kw'alaams is off for a retrofit and with its departure comes a change in the ways that residents of the community transit Tuck Inlet to and from Prince Rupert.

A Water Taxi Service will be in place to take 12 passengers per trip with three trips scheduled per day and tickets are required to make use of the service.

Sailings will leave Prince Rupert's Metlakatla Dock at 8 AM, 12 Noon and 4:30 PM; with trips departing Lax Kw'alaams (Tuck Inlet) at 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 5 PM

Reservations must be made to secure a spot on one of the three trips, the regular rate charged for the ferry service will be in place for the three sailings per day.

The community will also have a barge service in place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with Wainwright Marine providing space for 100 passengers and 15 passengers per trip according to the following schedule.

Tuesday and Thursday

Departing Aero Point Prince Rupert -- 8 AM and 5 PM
Departing Tuck Inlet Lax Kw'alaams  -- 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM

Sunday

Departing Aero Point Prince Rupert -- 11 AM
Departing Tuck Inlet Lax Kw'alaams  -- 12:30 PM

Rates for use of both the Water Taxi and Barge Service are as indicated below:

Water Taxi -- Adults 21 Dollars, Seniors/Students $15, age 5 and under free
Barge rates -- Vehicles 32 Dollars, Walk On same rate as water taxi fees

The replacement service will be place until further notice, more information on travel between the two communities can be found through the Lax Kw'alaams Band Council Office at 1-877-725-3293

While the Nicola (Spirit of Lax Kw'alaams) is being retrofitted for future use, the Lax Kw'alaams Band Council is also discussing with the Provincial Government the prospect of replacing the aging vessel with a larger ferry for service between Prince Rupert and the community.

In their summer newsletter, the Band Council outlined its desire to see the new transportation option in place to provide for more space for passengers and vehicles for the trip along Tuck Inlet. So far there has been no update on the progress of those talks with provincial officials.

More items of interest related to developments at Lax Kw'alaams can be found on our archive page.

Items of note on Transportation on the North Coast can be found here.