SERVING THE NORTH COAST FOR OVER 30 YEARS

Our History

West Coast Launch Ltd. is a family owned and operated marine transportation business servicing Northern British Columbia. The company was founded by Captain Doug Davis in 1988 when he saw the need for a safe and reliable marine transportation company to service Prince Rupert and the surrounding areas. As a local to the area, Doug was able to quickly grow West Coast Launch by offering passenger and freight transportation via water taxi to many of the remote areas on the North Coast. Working closely with the BC Pilotage and local marine agencies, West Coast Launch became the primary water taxi provider for all of the inbound and outbound freighters destined for the Ridley Island Coal and Prince Rupert Grain terminals.

Working up and down the North Coast, Doug fell in love with the remarkable wildlife in the area and wanted to share this beauty to the world. In 1994 Doug started up a marine tourism business, Prince Rupert Adventure Tours, to showcase the amazing wildlife and scenery of the Pacific Northwest. Prince Rupert Adventure Tours currently offers grizzly bear and whale watching tours on its 100-passenger catamaran, the Inside Passage. For more information on our tours please visit www.adventuretours.ca.

Today, West Coast Launch and Prince Rupert Adventure Tours work together to offer the North Coast a wide range of professional marine transportation services. With a modern fleet of eight high-quality vessels strategically situated in both Prince Rupert and Kitimat the company is equipped to better service the expanding terminals on the North Coast. West Coast Launch is proud to be a locally owned business that has been servicing the North Coast for over 30 years.

Safety

Safety is extremely important to us at West Coast Launch. Our goal is to make sure that our customers always feel safe while on our vessels. We will go above and beyond to fulfill each of our client’s specific safety requirements. To maintain our high level of safety we have the following safety standards in place:

  • All vessels are fully certified by Transport Canada and are on the "Approved Vessel List" for LNG Canada – SHELL
  • Marine Oil Spill Response Training with Western Canada Marine Response Corporation
  • Pre-Departure Safety and Vessel Familiarization done prior to all charters
  • Highly skilled and trained crew with Marine Medical and Marine Emergency Duties training.

Crew

Our crew are thoroughly trained above industry standards to work in the unique and challenging environment that is the Pacific Northwest. Safe, highly-skilled and personable, their certifications include:

  • Master 500 Ton
  • Master 150 Ton
  • Master 60 Ton
  • Marine First Aid
  • Drug and Alcohol Testing
  • SVMO
  • CSTS Training
  • Marine Medical
  • Marine Emergency Duties

First Nations Partnerships

As a business that was founded in Prince Rupert, we understand the importance and benefits of working together with local First Nations.

  • West Coast Launch has developed a limited partnership (LP) with Gingolx Enterprises Ltd., the economic development arm of the Nisga’a Village of Gingolx. This partnership, Gingolx WCL, was created to help better service the Nisga’a area, invest in the community and provide employment opportunities for the Nisga’a First Nation.
  • Early 2022 West Coast Launch formed a joint venture partnership with the Gitxaala nation. This partnership, Gitxaala WCL, was created to better service the Prince Rupert, Kitkatla, Kitimat and surrounding area while also providing employment and education opportunities to the community of Gitxaala.