Ocean Falls : Transportation
Airport
Pacific Coastal Airlines maintains a scheduled service from Port Hardy to Ocean Falls : Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A minimum of two passengers are required. The cost is currently $141.00 one way. Jim Owen serves as unofficial agent.
| CHARTER AIR SERVICE |
Prism Helicopters
Port Mcneill
| Vancouver Island Helicopters
Bella Coola,
Port Hardy
| Pacific Coastal Airlines
Bella Coola
| Mid Coast Air Services
Bella Coola
|
Local Roads
You cannot drive to Ocean Falls from BC's regular highway system although it is possible to bring your vehicle via BC Ferries on their Discovery Coast passage service. Some passengers aboard the Ferry bring their bikes - a great way to get around Ocean Falls.
Main roads within Ocean Falls and Martin Valley are controlled by the Ministry of Highways, however, due to the expense of bringing in outside crews, snow clearing and minor repairs are executed by the OFID by arrangement with the ministry.
The Martin Valley Road from Ocean Falls to Martin Valley is currently in need of considerable repair.
There is also a road running from Martin Valley to Shack Bay on Roscoe Inlet. This road is the responsibility of BC Forestry. There was some controversy last year when Forestry suggested that they would decommission the road. It is in fact considerably used and forms a bad weather access to Bella Bella. Forestry now appears to have decided to keep the road up to 4WD standard.
Several taxi services have been operating in Ocean Falls in recent years, but at the moment the service is provided only by Jim Owen.
Taxi Service
Several taxi services have been operating in Ocean Falls in recent years, but at the moment the service is provided only by Jim Owen. Water taxi service is available informally in Ocean Falls from a number of people who have suitable boats.
Fuel Service
Regular gas and diesel are supplied by Central Coast Power Corporation (CCPC). Fuel is brought into Ocean Falls twice per year by barge to the CCPC facility in the Mill Shop capable of storing 20,000 litres of marked diesel, 20,000 litres of marked regular gas, and 8,000 litres of unmarked gas. Fuel can also be provided to boaters by special arrangement with CCPC.
Freight Service
General freight service is provided by Central Coast Carriers (CCC) which is a cooperative formed by the communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu. The service was introduced last year and there have been some problems and some reduction of service from the levels enjoyed when Coast Ferries was carrying the freight (assisted by a government subsidy). Trailers are loaded in Vancouver and driven to Port Hardy where they are loaded onto BC Ferries vessels. The trailers are brought off/on the ferry with a BC Ferries tractor and pallets are lifted from the trailer using a propane fork lift (also provided by BC Ferries). Freight which includes produce or frozen goods are no longer guaranteed.
Many Ocean Falls residents travel out several times per year and much of their personal freight is carried back in when they come. Fuel and other dangerous goods, as well as heavy equipment are carried to and from Ocean Falls by barge
Water Taxi
Water taxi service is available informally in Ocean Falls from a number of people who have suitable boats.
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