 The pass stretches 5.5 km from northeast to southwest with two roughly right angle bends at each end.It was named for the USCS "Active", a United States Navy survey vessel, the first steamer to navigate the pass in 1855.Currently, the pass is used by BC Ferries' passenger and vehicle ferry runs between Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal at Tsawwassen, Lower Mainland, the southern Gulf Islands and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal at Swartz Bay, Vancouver Island.