Squamish, BC – In a key milestone to bring more Canadian LNG to global markets, Woodfibre LNG has welcomed the project’s second floating workforce accommodation (floatel) to site, adding up to 900 new trades jobs to the province to help complete facility construction as quickly as possible.
The MV Saga X will provide safe, modern, purpose-built accommodations for 642 construction workers in private cabins with ensuite bathrooms, along with space for up to 89 on-board staff.
The addition of on-site housing capacity enables Woodfibre LNG to scale up its workforce without creating any new pressure on the local housing market or essential services, like medical service. The additional accommodation capacity allows Woodfibre LNG to bring in the additional skilled trades needed to maintain project momentum and build Canada competitiveness in the global LNG market.
“The arrival of the MV Saga X represents another important step in getting more Canadian LNG to global markets,” said Luke Schauerte, CEO, Woodfibre LNG. “This vessel allows us to create up to 900 new jobs for skilled tradespeople who are needed to complete construction as quickly as possible while respecting the capacity of the local community. The success of our first floatel has shown that this approach works, and we’re proud to expand that model.”
Like Woodfibre LNG’s first floatel, the MV Isabelle X, the MV Saga X includes a wide range of amenities to support worker wellbeing and productivity, including:
- Fitness centres
- Recreation spaces such as billiards and arcades,
- On-board medical care
- Comfortable lounges,
- World-class dining options, allowing for hot meals as well as take-away lunches.
The MV Saga X also has a few unique additions, including a 200-person auditorium and an outdoor basketball court.
Both floatels will remain in place through construction completion in 2027.
The decision to use floatels for the project was directly shaped by early consultation with Squamish residents; many of whom expressed concerns about the potential impact of a large construction workforce on community services, traffic, and Squamish’s already overheated housing market.
The floatel solution ensures the project’s expanding workforce does not compete for local housing, avoiding community impacts while maintaining a safe and well-managed work environment. The first floatel has been highly successful—both in minimizing local impacts and in providing a productive, well-supported accommodation solution.
(Photo from Woodfibre LNG)