Tall Ships in North Vancouver – Photos and Tours

One of the world’s largest tall ships was in North Vancouver this week and I captured photos of its departure this afternoon as it crossed under the Lions Gate Bridge.

In the middle of a 12-month global voyage, the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl is a floating ambassador for the UN Ocean Decade. It combines sail training, ocean science, education and diplomacy to inspire action for a sustainable ocean. It had been in town since October 17th and offered tours last weekend from the Lower Lonsdale dock.

At 98 metres in length and 48 metres in height, the three-masted barque is one of the largest (and oldest) tall ships still sailing the seas, built in 1914. Over the course of a year, the expedition will visit 27 ports across three continents.

Today it’s heading for Seattle and will continue on to San Francisco, San Diego, then Mexico and Colombia. In the new year it will be on the East Coast of the United States crossing to Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, and back to Norway. On its way here it was originally scheduled to do the Northwest Passage but the course was changed due to ice.

Colombia Tall Ship Gloria

Next up this week you may spot the Gloria, flagship of the Colombian Navy, built in Spain and commissioned in 1968. A floating ambassador for Colombia and a training vessel for naval cadets. The ship will dock at the Burrard Dry Dock Pier in North Vancouver from Wednesday, October 22, to Saturday, October 25, 2025.

North Vancouver RCMP have advised that the Gloria will be firing a 17-gun salute on Wednesday morning at 9:30am.

This tall ship will also be open to the public for free tours via the Burrard Dry Dock Pier (15 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver) at the Shipyards.

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