B.C. agency orders LNG company to deploy 'floatel' near Squamish

ABritishColumbiagovernment agency has ordered a liquefied natural gas company to deploy a cruise ship that's been renovated to house workers near Squamish,B.C.

A statement from Woodfibre LNG says it has received a compliance order from theB.C. Environmental Assessment Office requiring it to move the vessel to its designated area in Howe Sound from its current mooring off the coast ofNanaimo, B.C.

The District of Squamish has yet to issue a temporary-use permit allowing the so-calledfloatelto be anchored offshore at the LNG construction site.

But an inspection record from the assessment office says the project carries a requirement that any workers who didn't live in Squamish before Sept. 20, 2023, must reside on thefloatelunless they've been granted an exemption.

WATCH | Squamish councillors reject 'floatel':

Floating hotel voted down by Squamish city council

3 months ago

Duration 1:27

Squamish council has voted down a plan to bring in a ship that would have been used to house more than 600 workers at a liquefied natural gas facility. The so-called "floatel" has approvals from the B.C. and federal government as well as the Squamish Nation, but city councillors are not convinced it's a good fit.

Hundreds living in construction camp

It says the inspection found about 300 workers were living at a construction camp in Port Mellon, north of Gibsons,B.C.; 30 were in Squamish hotels; and a further 87 workers weren't living in either of those locations.

The document says those accommodations aren't in compliance with Woodfibre's environmental assessment certificate for the project.

Thefloatelship arrived inB.C. waters in January after a 40-day journey from Estonia, where it had been converted to shelter Ukrainian refugees.

A report from Squamish district staff related to Woodfibre's temporary use permit is listed as an agenda item for the district's meeting on Tuesday.

Squamish councillors voted three to four against a one-year permit at a meeting in May, where those opposed to the plan raised concerns about the safety of women and girls, traffic issues, waste management and potential natural hazards.

Councillors have since voted to refer the issue back to staff and direct them to work with Woodfibre on increasing the security deposit for thefloatelto $10 million.