Island Packers
{{Short description|American passenger ferry service}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Island Packers
| logo =
| logo_alt =
| type = Private
| industry = Transportation
| fate =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1968}}{{Cite web|title=One of Calif.'s best national parks is also its most expensive|url=https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/expensive-national-park-channel-islands-19664556.php|access-date=August 22, 2024}}
| founders =
| hq_location_city = Ventura, California
| hq_location_country = United States
| num_locations =
| area_served = Channel Islands National Park (Anacapa Island, Santa Barbara Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island)
| key_people = Bill M. Connally, founder
| services = Ferry transport
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = {{URL|islandpackers.com}}
}}
Island Packers is an American passenger ferry service that operates scheduled trips between Channel Islands National Park and mainland California. The company began service in 1968.
In January 2024, Island Packers entered a new 10-year contract with the National Park Service. Additionally, Island Packers offers a variety of tours, including whale watching cruises, wildlife cruises, and bird watching cruises.{{cite web|title=Wildlife trips|url=https://islandpackers.com/book-wildlife/|access-date=August 23, 2024}}
Operations
The company provides transportation to all five islands within Channel Islands National Park: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara Island.{{cite web|url=https://islandpackers.com/book/|title= "Book Your Trip"|date= August 2024}}
Access to Santa Barbara is suspended during breeding season to protect the California brown pelican.{{cite web|title=Current Conditions - Channel Islands National Park|url=https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/conditions.htm|access-date= August 22, 2024}}
= Ports =
Island Packers operates two harbors on mainland California:
- Ventura Harbor, Ventura, California, with service to Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island and San Miguel Island.
- Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, California, with service to Anacapa Island
=Fleet=
Island Packers currently operate four vessels:{{Cite web|title= Meet the Team|url=https://islandpackers.com/meet-us/|access-date= August 22, 2024}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| Name | Type | Length (Feet) | Passenger Capacity | Top Speed | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islander | Catamaran | {{Convert|134|ft}} | 149 | {{Convert|27|knots}} | 2001 | First catamaran operated by Island Packers |
| Island Adventure | Catamaran | {{Convert|65|ft}} | 149 | {{Convert|27|knots}} | 2004 | |
| Island Explorer | Catamaran | {{Convert|65|ft}} | 149 | {{Convert|27|knots}} | 2013 | |
| Vanguard | Monohull | {{Convert|65|ft}} | 81 | {{Convert|18|knots}} | 1991 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{California-transport-stub}}
{{ferry-stub}}
Category:Ferries of California
Category:Channel Islands of California