Woodfibre LNG seeks second floatel near Squamish, plans 900 jobs

Woodfibre LNG is seeking regulatory approval to add a second floating hotel, or 'floatel,' at its project site near Squamish, B.C., to house up to 900 additional construction workers as it aims to accelerate the construction of its liquefied natural gas export facility. The move comes after the first floatel, MV Isabelle X, faced significant controversy and a legal challenge regarding its permitting process, with local officials raising concerns about safety, waste management, and pressure on community resources. The company and its partner, Bridgemans Services Group, argue that housing workers offshore has reduced impacts on the housing market, traffic, and local services, and aligns with the project's net-zero and community commitments. If approved, the second floatel is expected to help Woodfibre LNG meet its target of producing 2.1 million tonnes of LNG annually by 2027, while also creating hundreds of high-paying jobs. Critics, however, maintain the company underestimated accommodation needs and failed to address community concerns adequately. The regulatory review for the second floatel will mirror the multi-level oversight applied to the first vessel, involving provincial and Indigenous authorities.