Fishing boats, ferries and container ships are just some of the vessels you might see passing by Steveston along the Fraser River.
Those are also some of the various watercrafts that Steveston resident Leighton Matthews has taken to photographing and sharing on his recently launched Twitter account @StevestonShips.
Launching the account “just kind of made sense,” he said, given his fascination with ships, love of photography and his proximity to the water.
“When I see all the ships, from the ferries to container ships to the fishing boats, I see commerce and I see this vital part of the economy, and the waterways that have provided employment for people doing all manner of things,” he said.
Matthews also uses a vessel finder app to track the ships’ courses, which he said adds further perspective to “how incredibly connected we are to this system, this supply chain.”
He said he’s hoping there are some people out there who either “just enjoy some pretty photos” or who want to “geek along” about ships with him.
Matthews said he was drawn to B.C. Ferries growing up, which put him on the path to having an interest in boats and ships.
While he has lived in Steveston for 16 years, it wasn’t until he moved to a place “right by the water” in the Imperial Landing area that he really noticed the amount of activity up and down the river, and began “taking pictures like crazy,” venturing out daily (weather permitting).
“There’s such a variety of interesting shipping and watercraft of all sorts. I mean, we see everything from paddle borders to jet skis to sailboats, to fishing boats – which of course is the heart of why Steveston exists – to cargo ferries and B.C. Ferries going up and down the river,” Matthews said.
There are also the “enormous skyscraper-sized” container ships that fill your view, he said.
One of the best spots to watch the ships go by is out at the fisherman’s needle monument in Garry Point Park, said Matthews.
At the docks down near Imperial Landing, people can watch the fishing or search and rescue boats come and go.
While Matthews said he will always have a soft spot for B.C. Ferries, the vessel he really wants to see next is a carol ship in Steveston’s harbour at Christmas time.
