Woodfibre LNG recently unveiled a plan to manage daily worker movement while constructing its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. The Construction Marine Transportation Management and Monitoring Plan, discussed at a recent council meeting, outlines efficient transportation for personnel and equipment.
To transport workers to the construction site, the company plans to use a passenger ferry for the nine-kilometre journey, accommodating 100-200 passengers. This passenger ferry will depart from Site B, also known as West Barr Lease, each day. The company said the West-Barr lease, proposed by Indigenous-owned businesses Harmony Group and Sko-mish Valley Security Services, offers an alternative marine transportation route and will avoid potential impacts on local tourism and recreational areas at Darrell Bay.
Cargo vessels departing from the Port of Vancouver will transport heavy equipment to the construction site, including trucks, cranes, and excavators. Materials such as pipes, steel, and supplies will also be transported using cargo vessels, often mounted on trailers and pallets or loaded into containers.
WLNG site will include floating storage tanks, an LNG carrier platform, a marine offloading facility, a passenger ferry dock, a passenger dock breakwater, and floatel marine infrastructure. Woodfibre LNG said it’s mindful of potential interactions with BC Ferries and proposes advance notification of the Project marine access routes.
Acknowledging possible interactions with Indigenous groups’ marine harvesting activities and cultural and recreational activities in Howe Sound, a Marine Safety Zone (MSZ) will be established for public safety and site security during construction. Woodfibre LNG will consult maritime stakeholders to confirm safety requirements, the company said.
Woodfibre LNG engaged Moffatt & Nichol in 2014 for a vessel wake assessment to understand potential effects on shorelines and infrastructure.
A former cruise ship will also house 600 workers at Woodfibre LNG site. The MV Isabelle will have 652 renovated guest rooms and private ensuites, catered dining and lunch areas, an outdoor and sports lounge, meeting rooms and offices, a first aid clinic, a billiard and games room, laundry rooms and an 8,000-square-foot fitness facility.
