B.C. approves second floatel to house Woodfibre LNG workers

Key Takeaways:

• Woodfibre LNG has received approval from federal, provincial, and Squamish Nation regulators to deploy a second floating accommodation vessel, the MV Saga X, at its LNG construction site near Squamish.
• The new floatel will create up to 900 additional jobs and provide 642 more rooms for skilled tradesworkers, helping accelerate project construction while avoiding pressure on local housing and services.
• Operated by Vancouver-based Bridgemans, the vessel will follow strict regulatory conditions—including controlled worker access, mandatory ferry commuting, and cultural and gender safety training—to ensure safe and responsible operations.

The Whole Story:

Woodfibre LNG has received regulatory approval from the BC Environmental Assessment Office, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Squamish Nation to deploy a second floating workforce accommodation vessel at its liquefied natural gas facility under construction near Squamish.

The approval of the second floatel will enable the creation of up to 900 new jobs and add 642 rooms for skilled tradespeople at the site, the company said in a news release. The vessel will help accelerate facility construction and support the delivery of Canadian LNG to global markets.

“The second floatel is a critical part of delivering this project safely, responsibly and on schedule,” said Luke Schauerte, CEO of Woodfibre LNG. “By doubling onsite housing capacity, we can support more Canadian jobs today, sustain our construction momentum and move closer to delivering lower-emission Canadian LNG to global markets.”

The first floatel, the MV Isabelle X, has operated successfully at the site since June 2024. By housing workers aboard floating accommodation, the project avoids impact on Squamish’s strained housing market and public services, the company said.

The second vessel, the MV Saga X, is expected to arrive in Vancouver on Nov. 12. Following final refits, provisioning and regulatory inspections, it will sail to the Woodfibre LNG site later in November and be moored there.

All regulatory conditions governing the first floatel also apply to the second, including restrictions on workers accessing Squamish, mandatory commuting by private ferry from Vancouver for non-local workers, and mandatory cultural and gender safety training for all residents. A strict code of conduct and work expectations will be enforced.

Vancouver-based Bridgemans is the provider and operator of both vessels. The company will manage day-to-day operations of the MV Saga X, integrating the same high-efficiency systems, environmental controls and low-impact operating procedures used on the MV Isabelle X.