Vancouver’s Floating Chevron Gas Station

For over 80 years, a floating gas station has been a fixture on Vancouver’s waterfront, but today’s sleek fuel barge is far from the humble origins of “Gasoline Alley.” Nestled in Coal Harbour, this unique landmark has served generations of seafarers, transforming over time from its early, utilitarian beginnings into a modern marvel of design and engineering.

The floating station we see today, installed in 2010, is actually the third iteration at this location. It replaced Standard Oil No. 5, which had been fueling boats since 1959. Both the 1959 and 2010 barges were designed by Robert Allan Ltd, a name synonymous with innovative marine engineering. But before this contemporary structure took shape, the waters here were home to a bustling fuel district that stretched back to the early 1920s, when the area was known as “Gasoline Alley.”

In its heyday, Gasoline Alley was a hive of activity, with floating barges from major oil companies like Chevron, Esso, Shell, Petro-Canada, and Texaco all lined up to fuel the city’s maritime traffic. It was a time when Vancouver’s waterways mirrored its streets, with boats as frequent as cars, and gas barges keeping them moving.

However, not all was smooth sailing. In 1974, disaster struck when Home Oil’s barge was destroyed in a catastrophic fire following a massive explosion, a dramatic reminder of the inherent risks of floating fuel stations. Despite such setbacks, the floating gas station survived, evolving into the safer, more sophisticated design we see today.

While the bustling “Gasoline Alley” is a thing of the past, the current fuel barge continues to serve as a key point of interest in Coal Harbour, offering a blend of history and modern convenience to Vancouver’s seafaring community.