B.C. LNG project asks for second floatel to add worker capacity

Key Takeaways:

• Woodfibre LNG plans to add a second floatel to its project site near Squamish, B.C., creating over 900 new skilled trades jobs and accelerating the construction timeline for what will be the world’s first net zero LNG export facility.
• The second floatel, like the existing MV Isabelle X, will house non-local workers on-site to reduce strain on local housing, traffic, and services, and will undergo a full regulatory review, including approvals from the provincial government and Squamish Nation.
• Vancouver-based Bridgemans Services Group, which provided the first floatel, will also retrofit and operate the second one, ensuring alignment with the project’s net zero goals and commitments made through extensive community and environmental consultation.

The Whole Story:

Woodfibre LNG announced it will submit an application to regulatory agencies to add a second workplace accommodation floatel at the Woodfibre LNG project site. The application will seek regulatory approval to moor a second floatel adjacent to the current floatel, the MV Isabelle X, to add approximately 900 skilled trades jobs to the construction project. Once complete, the Woodfibre LNG facility will produce approximately 2.1 million tonnes of LNG per year during operations.

“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, “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.”

The MV Isabelle X is moored at the Woodfibre LNG project site located 7 kilometres outside of the community of Squamish.

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 provincial government on November 1, 2023. Subsequently, on December 4, 2023, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) approved an amendment to the Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement to support the floatel. This second floatel will now undergo the same regulatory review process through multiple levels of regulatory oversight.

The MV Isabelle X has been providing purpose-built live-work accommodation on-site outside of Squamish, minimizing any potential impact to the local housing market, local traffic or additional pressure on civic or health care services.

Woodfibre LNG says it will ensure the equivalent levels of excellence will be met if the second floatel is approved by entering into a contract with the same Canadian company, Bridgemans Services Group, who procured and retrofit the MV Isabelle X.

Vancouver-based Bridgemans has committed 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 minimize 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 MV 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 MV Isabelle X showcases Canadian innovation and sets a new benchmark for workforce accommodation on the water.”