Marilyn Anderson | WBN News Vancouver | August 11, 2025
The Harbour Series- Part One
Vancouver Harbour has long served as the city’s maritime lifeline. In the early 20th century, it was the arrival point for immigrants and a hub for grain, coastal shipping, and shipbuilding. Over time, the Port of Vancouver has grown into Canada’s largest and the fourth-largest in North America by cargo tonnage, handling millions of tonnes annually and hosting hundreds of cruise ships.
From its industrial roots, the harbour transformed into today’s mix of historic craft and modern bustle. Seaspan ULC, an evolution of century-old tugging and barge firms, still dominates ship repair, towing, and ferry services, moving everything from logs to railcars throughout the Pacific Northwest. Allied Shipbuilders, founded in 1948, continues pouring steel into tugs, workboats, and ferries, continuing half a century of maritime craftsmanship.
The SeaBus ferry, crossing Burrard Inlet since 1977, links commuters between Waterfront Station and North Vancouver with a sleek ten-minute ride. This is a vital artery in the Vancouver transit network. Along Coal Harbour, pleasure craft glide among high-rise condos and marinas; visitors stroll the seawall past luxury yachts, and Harbour Air floatplanes and ferry terminals glint among steel tugs and commuter ferries. And nearby, the Vancouver Maritime Museum preserves a storied legacy; from Captain Cook’s charts to the arctic-exploring St. Roch, who reminds us how deeply the sea shapes the city.
It’s a harbour where history docks beside innovation and where tankers, tugs, ferries, cruise vessels, and yes, elegant yachts, all share the same water. Future articles will spotlight individual businesses and their role in Vancouver’s economic tide.
Tags:#Vancouver Harbour, #Maritime History, #Port Activities, #Sea Bus, #Ship building, #Cruise Ship Terminal, #Coal Harbour
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Sources:
Port of Vancouver, SeaBus, Seaspan ULC, Allied Shipbuilders, Coal Harbour, Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Vancouver Maritime Museum.