Iconic Expo 86 'McBarge' capsizes in Fraser River
The vessel became famous as a McDonald's restaurant during the 1986 World Expo and hasn't been used since then
The "McBarge" vessel that housed a McDonald's restaurant during Expo 86 in Vancouver was on its side and capsized in the Fraser River on Wednesday.
The 57-metre-long barge was moored in False Creek during the world exposition in 1986 near other Expo icons like B.C. Place and Science World.
But since its stint as a McDonald's restaurant, the barge — officially known as the Friendship 500 — has never seen visitors. It has been derelict for decades, and anchored in both Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River.
On Wednesday, two CBC News reporters took photographs of the iconic vessel on its side in the Fraser River. CBC News has reached out to the owner of the McBarge for more information.
A spokesperson for the City of Maple Ridge said they are aware of reports regarding a "sinking vessel" in the Fraser River.
"While the vessel is located in federal waters and not under city jurisdiction, we understand the public's concerns and are actively engaged in responding," the spokesperson wrote.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Coast Guard said they had received information that the vessel, now known as Seaborne II, had sunk in place on Wednesday.
The coast guard last checked on the abandoned barge on Nov. 29, 2023, the spokesperson said in a statement.
"At that time it was assessed by the coast guard and deemed to have no pollutants on board, nor be a significant navigational hazard as it was grounded and secured to pilings in the area.
"The file ... was handed over to Transport Canada as it was found not to be an immediate risk to the environment or public safety."
The McBarge has been moored on the Fraser River for more than a decade, and various uses were pitched for the vessel, considered one of Expo 86's more famous relics.
In 2017, the owner of the barge had proposed a "deep ocean discovery centre" on the barge, involving vintage diving technology and interactive exhibits.
Prior to that, other plans included a relocation to Mission, B.C., to be transformed into a pub, as part of a larger waterfront development in the Fraser Valley city.
However, none of those plans came to fruition. Before its decade-long stint in Maple Ridge, the vessel was moored in the Burrard Inlet in north Burnaby.
Transport Canada didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from CBC News.
Corrections
- A previous version of this story, using information from the Canadian Coast Guard, incorrectly stated that the McBarge was last assessed in November 2024. In fact, it was last assessed in November 2023.Mar 27, 2025 1:01 PM EDT
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With files from Justin McElroy, Bethany Lindsay and Yvette Brend