NORTH VANCOUVER, BC — TransLink today announced the name of the latest addition to the SeaBus fleet. The Burrard Chinook was christened at Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands this January and will start its long journey to Metro Vancouver in the coming weeks.

The Chinook name is a tribute to the largest and most iconic of the Pacific salmon species. The Chinook salmon has played a central role in life on the west coast of British Columbia for generations. It is also a renowned swimmer and a critical part of the ecosystem in the Burrard Inlet and the northern Pacific Ocean. 

The SeaBus operates in the traditional territory of the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. We would like to acknowledge their generosity in sharing, with TransLink, their translations of the name “Chinook” into hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the traditional language of the Musqueam Indian Band and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and the traditional language of the Squamish Nation. These translations will be displayed on the new vessel.  

In naming the fifth SeaBus to join the fleet (the first SeaBus has since been retired), TransLink needed to take many factors into consideration. The name needed to:  

• Meet Transport Canada’s regulations for marine vessels;
• be consistent with the existing marine life theme;
• be easy to say and understand over the radio transmission; and
• be an appropriate length for displaying on the SeaBus and emergency equipment like lifejackets.

The Burrard Chinook is funded through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF); the Government of Canada at 50 per cent, the Province of British Columbia at 33 per cent and TransLink at 17 per cent. Total cost of the vessel is $32.2 million. The Burrard Chinook will join the Burrard Beaver, Burrard Otter II and the Burrard Pacific Breeze in service late this summer. 

Learn More:

SeaBus Name Reveal Video

Quotes:

Kevin Desmond, CEO, TransLink –

“Last year, there were more than six million boardings on SeaBus connecting customers from the North Shore with Downtown Vancouver. The addition of the Burrard Chinook to our iconic SeaBus fleet is a key part of the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision to improve transit service and decrease travel times in congested corridors like those on the North Shore. A fourth SeaBus means our customers will benefit from increased frequencies and sailings every 10 minutes during peak times once the vessel is in service.”

Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities –

“Investing in urban transit networks is essential to supporting economic growth and helping residents to spend less time in traffic on their way to work and more time with their families. Adding this fourth SeaBus to Metro Vancouver’s transportation network accommodate a growing ridership and help make the transit system more accessible for residents well into the future.”

Bowinn Ma, Parliamentary Secretary for Translink and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale –

“The Chinook salmon is a big part of the West Coast vitality, lifestyle and culture. Naming the newest addition to the SeaBus fleet after this largest salmon species represents what the vessel means for the people who will use it. When it goes into service as part of TransLink's extensive network, the Burrard Chinook will be a key part of helping people get to where they need to go safely and efficiently.”

Linda Buchanan, Mayor, City of North Vancouver on behalf of Mayor Jonathan Cote, Chair, Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation –

“The Burrard Chinook represents another realization of the investments made across Metro Vancouver to improve how we get to work, home or play. Tackling congestion is a core focus of Mayors’ Council and for communities on the North Shore. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues from all levels of government to make investments in our transit and transportation networks to help residents move throughout our region.”

Media contact:
TransLink Media Relations
C: (778) 375-7788
E: media@translink.ca