The channel is in some places amazingly straight and narrow, but the route also has a number of bends and jogs. This lighthouse marks one such point.

I sailed this route twelve years ago on the "Queen of the North". But on the night of March 22, 2006 the Queen ran full-speed into Gil Island and sank an hour later in 1400 feet (427 meters) of water. 99 of the 101 people on board got ashore safely, with the help of people from the nearby native village of Hartley Bay.

The new ferry, the "Northern Endeavour" is bigger, faster, and safer.