Island Packers
 Island Packers Catamaran Fleet, as seen from Ventura Harbor | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1968[1] |
| Headquarters | Ventura, California , United States |
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 |
| Website | islandpackers |
| Footnotes [2] | |
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.[1]
In January 2024, Island Packers entered a new 10-year contract with the National Park Service.[1] Additionally, Island Packers offers a variety of tours, including whale watching cruises, wildlife cruises, and bird watching cruises.[3]
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.[4]. Anacapa and Santa Cruz trips occur year-round, Santa Rosa trips typically occur March through November, San Miguel trips typically occur July through October and Santa Barbara Island trips typically occur April through October. Santa Cruz operations include Scorpion Anchorage, Prisoner's Harbor and Fry's Harbor (located on The Nature Conservancy owned portion of the island).
Access to Santa Barbara is currently suspended due to dock damage on the island.[5]
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:[6]
| Name | Type | Length (Feet) | Passenger Capacity | Top Speed | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islander | Catamaran | 65 feet (20 m) | 149 | 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) | 2001 | First catamaran operated by Island Packers |
| Island Adventure | Catamaran | 65 feet (20 m) | 149 | 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) | 2004 | |
| Island Explorer | Catamaran | 65 feet (20 m) | 149 | 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) | 2013 | |
| Vanguard | Monohull | 65 feet (20 m) | 81 | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) | 1991 | Typically operates out of Channel Islands Harbor |
References
- 1 2 3 "One of Calif.'s best national parks is also its most expensive". Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ↑ "The Story of Island Packers". Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ↑ "Wildlife trips". Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ↑ ""Book Your Trip"". August 2024.
- ↑ "Current Conditions - Channel Islands National Park". Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ↑ "Meet the Team". Retrieved August 22, 2024.