Controversial second floating hotel may soon house 900 more LNG workers at B.C. site
A second floating hotel may soon make its way to Squamish to house construction workers building the Woodfibre LNG plant. But not everyone is a fan of the idea.
Woodfibre LNG announced today that it will apply to regulatory agencies for permission to add a second workplace accommodation, a “floatel,” at its project site on the west side of Howe Sound, just southwest of Squamish.
The proposed second floatel would be moored beside the first, the MV Isabelle X, and would provide housing for about 900 skilled trade workers building what is described as the world’s first net-zero LNG export facility.
Isabelle arrives in Vancouver harbour, January 2024. (Bridgemans Services Group)
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“It is clear that Canada is looking to diversify its energy markets, and when complete, Woodfibre LNG will do exactly that by making more Canadian LNG available to Asian markets,” said Luke Schauerte, CEO of Woodfibre LNG, in a release.
“If approved, the addition of a second floatel creates more than 900 new jobs and allows Woodfibre LNG to answer the call to advance and diversify Canadian energy exports, provide more employment opportunities sooner and accelerate construction.”
The Woodfibre LNG site spans 212 acres of industrial waterfront land previously used for sawmill and pulp mill operations, which ended in 2006.
Instead of using a typical work camp, the Woodfibre LNG project utilizes the Isabelle as a self-contained, full-service floatel. Vancouver-based marine services firm Bridgemans Services Group acquired Isabelle in July 2023, at which point the ship was sent to a shipyard in Estonia for a major refit of its interior living and common areas, as well as its environmental systems.
Workers who live onboard have access to a wide range of amenities, including an upgraded dining room, an 8,000 sq. ft. fitness gym, a sports lounge with large television screens, a games lounge, multiple quiet lounges, and lockers.
Inside the Isabelle. (Bridgemans Services Group)
District of Squamish councillors initially voted to reject providing the floatel with the necessary permits in the spring of 2024, citing concerns around safety, waste management, and traffic issues.
The provincial government then approved the first floating hotel through an amendment to the project’s environmental assessment certificate. The Squamish Nation gave similar approval via an amendment to its environmental assessment agreement.
A second floating hotel would need to go through the same regulatory review before it can be approved.
Inside the Isabelle. (Bridgemans Services Group)
Bridgemans has stated that the second floatel would align with the project’s Net Zero mandate and minimize its impacts on the environment and community.
However, environmental organization My Sea To Sky is speaking out against the addition of a second housing vessel, stating that the drawbacks outweigh any benefits.
“The impact of this project keeps getting bigger,” said Tracey Saxby, executive director of My Sea To Sky, in an emailed statement. “It’s clear that Woodfibre LNG grossly underestimated the need for worker accommodation in their original proposal. Both the company and its regulators failed to listen to warnings from community members made over a decade ago that accommodation was scarce.
“I can’t imagine that Woodfibre LNG could be permitted to dock a second floatel while the first floatel blatantly ignores local jurisdiction, and is being challenged later this month in federal court as having followed an improper permitting process.”