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
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Mother's Day movies that pull at ALL the heartstrings
This Mother's Day Weekend, take a look at some of the most emotional movies inspired by moms.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.