Floating hotel ship arrives in Nanaimo ahead of WoodFibre LNG construction project
A massive hotel ship that previously accommodated Ukrainian refugees in Estonia has arrived on Vancouver Island as it prepares to house more than 600 workers for a natural gas construction project near Squamish, B.C.
The 154-metre MV Isabelle, a so-called "floatel," or floating hotel, arrived at the Port of Nanaimo on Wednesday evening. The ship contains 652 cabins that will house workers building the Woodfibre LNG project starting this spring.
The Vancouver-based Bridgemans Services Group, which owns the ship and three similar vessels, says the MV Isabelle was outfitted in North Vancouver last month with lockers, games tables and equipment for an 8,000-square-foot onboard fitness facility.
Woodfibre LNG selected the ship in November, saying in a statement that the vessel would provide the most comfortable and sustainable accommodations for the natural gas project's non-local workforce.
"From the start, it's been a priority to make sure the construction of the Woodfibre LNG facility has as little impact on Squamish as possible," Woodfibre LNG president Christine Kennedy said in the statement.
Bridgemans acquired the ship last July and registered it as a Canadian vessel on Jan. 31, according to Transport Canada records. Prior to that, the ship served as a ferry between Latvia and Sweden before it was temporarily repurposed to house people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Port of Nanaimo spokesperson Andrea Thomas says the Canadian-flagged vessel's arrival in Nanaimo as a staging ground before its eventual departure for Squamish underscores the port's "commitment to leveraging Canadian resources and expertise."
"This vessel represents a pivotal asset in providing comfortable and accessible accommodation for the workforce involved in one of the region's most significant projects," Thomas added.
The ship has sewage and water treatment systems, industrial heat pumps, and the ability to run on shore power from the BC Hydro electricity grid, according to Bridgemans.
Once the vessel is docked at the project site, the company says it will have a crew on board at all times to inspect the ship and ensure fire, water and other safety systems meet Canadian regulations.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
WATCH LIVE Charges against world's top golfer Scottie Scheffler dropped after arrest outside PGA Championship
Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world’s top male golfer being arrested and handcuffed in Louisville during the PGA Championship.
'Scandals and secrets': On board the world's most exclusive private residential ship
It’s a floating city exclusively home to the 1 per cent, a playground for multimillionaires and billionaires that circumnavigates the world's oceans.
How Trump's hush money trial verdict could affect the 2024 election
Here is how three potential outcomes from the jury room ─ a guilty verdict, an acquittal or a hung jury ─ could affect the presidential campaign.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
An Iceland volcano starts erupting again, spewing lava into the sky
A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Wednesday for the fifth time since December, spewing red streams of lava in the latest display of nature’s power and triggering the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
'Are you driving?' U.S. man with suspended licence shows up on court Zoom call while behind the wheel
A Michigan man with a suspended driver's licence didn't appear to have thought through a recent court appearance made on video, joining the Zoom call while driving.
Heat-related monkey deaths are reported in several Mexican states
Heat-related howler monkeys deaths in Mexico have been recorded in a total of four states, environmental authorities said.