Canadian gas developer, Woodfibre LNG is to submit an application to the regulatory agencies to add a second accommodation floatel at its plant construction site.
The company is seeking regulatory approval to berth a second floatel adjacent to the current vessel, the ropax ’Isabelle X’, to add around 900 skilled trades jobs to the building project.
Once complete, the Woodfibre LNG facility will produce around 2.1 mill tonnes of LNG per year.
“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, Woodfibre LNG’s CEO,
“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 of the world’s first net zero LNG export facility,” he said.
‘Isabelle X’ is berthed at the Woodfibre LNG project site located seven kilometres outside of the town of Squamish in British Columbia.
The requirement to house the project’s non-local construction workforce on the floatel was established through an amendment to the project’s Environmental Assessment Certificate approved by the British Columbia provincial government on 1st November, 2023.
Subsequently, on 4th December, 2023, the Squamish Nation approved an amendment to the Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement to support the floatel.
The proposed second floatel will undergo the same regulatory review process through multiple levels of regulatory oversight.
‘Isabelle X’ has been successful in providing a premium, purpose-built live/work accommodation onsite outside Squamish, minimising any potential impact to the local housing market, local traffic or additional pressure on civic or health care services.
Workers enjoy safe and comfortable housing on board the floatel without any negative impact on the community, Woodfibre claimed.
If approved, Woodfibre LNG will enter into a contract with the same Canadian company, Bridgemans Services Group, who procured and retrofitted the ‘Isabelle X’.
Vancouver based Bridgemans has agreed that the second floatel will align with the project’s net zero mandate and meet a variety of key commitments that the project has made through the years long consultative process, including the need to minimise environmental and community impacts.
“Bridgemans is proud to undertake the retrofit, delivery and operation of a second floatel to the same high standards set by the ‘Isabelle X’,” said Brian Grange, President of Bridgemans.
“As a Vancouver-based Canadian company, it’s an honour to contribute to a project that strengthens Canada’s role in global energy.
“The ‘Isabelle X’ showcases Canadian innovation and sets a new benchmark for workforce accommodation on the water,” he said.
