After a long journey from Singapore and and undergoing sea trials and crew training all fall, the Burrard Otter II is ready to set out on the open seas on Monday, December 1 for its maiden voyage!

Want to be one of the first customers to ride the Burrard Otter II? It will make its first sailing from Waterfront Station at 11 am on Monday! Regular fares apply.

Burrard Otter II first passenger sailing

Date: Monday, December 1 at 11 am
Location: Waterfront Station

The Burrard Otter II replaces the original Otter and will share duties with the Burrard Pacific Breeze, which made its maiden voyage on December 23, 2009.

The original Otter, which went into service nearly forty years ago when SeaBus operations began, will head off into retirement once the other SeaBus – the Burrard Beaver – is retrofitted to be used as a spare vessel.

The updated design of the Burrard Otter II makes the vessel more efficient and easier on the environment. The new SeaBus uses less fuel and produces 20 per cent less carbon dioxide than older vessels. The Burrard Otter II also surpasses marine standards and reduces carbon monoxide emissions by 90 per cent, hydro carbons by 70 per cent and visual smoke by 25 per cent.

The Burrard Otter II cost approximately $21 million to build, of which $19 million was provided by the Government of Canada through the Gas Tax Fund allocated by the Union of BC Municipalities. TransLink contributed the remaining $2 million.

SeaBus has provided safe, reliable and efficient service between downtown Vancouver and the North Shore since 1977. Over six million passengers cross the Burrard Inlet on SeaBus every year, or 16,600 people per day.

Planning to ride the Burrard Otter II on Monday? Be sure to tweet @TheBuzzer your pictures or post them onto Instagram and mention @TransLinkBC!

Burrard Otter II Facts

• Passenger capacity: 395 + 4 crew
• Size:
  • Length: 34.29 m (112’ 6”)
  • Width: 12.65 m (41’ 6”)
  • Depth: 3.57 m (11’ 8”)
  • Weight: Lightship weight is 164 tonnes (net), 453 (gross)
• Type of engine:  4 x MTU/Detroit Diesel Series 60
• Horsepower (300 kilowatts each x 4):  400 hp x 4 = 1600 hp
• SeaBus officially went into service : June 17, 1977
• Distance per trip: 3.24 km (1.75 naut. mi.)

Join SeaBus Captain Marvin Warnock onboard the Burrard Otter II

See the Burrard Inlet from the point of view of Captain Marvin Warnock as he operates the Burrard Otter II from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay and back! He also tells us why he joined SeaBus in 1997 and what he enjoys most about his job of 17 years.

Author: Allen Tung