On Jan 3, 2024, the 'Isabelle' arrived at Seaspan’s shipyard in North Vancouver to begin work on the finishing touches of the vessel’s refit ahead of its use as a floating hotel, specifically for the construction workers building the Woodfibre LNG plant. Up until last year, the 'Isabelle' was actively being used in Estonia, where it was mobilized as temporary housing for 1,500 Ukrainian refugees who fled the Russian war. In July 2023, the Vancouver-based marine services firm Bridgemans Services Group acquired the 'Isabelle', at which point the ship was sent to a shipyard in Riga for a major refit of its interior living and common areas, and environmental systems. Starting in Spring 2024, the vessel will be positioned off the shore of the west side of Howe Sound near Squamish, where the Woodfibre LNG facility will be constructed. The 'Isabelle' contains 652 newly renovated guest cabins, each with private ensuites, for more than 600 on-site construction workers over the multi-year timeline of building the project. Living onboard, they will have access to a wide range of amenities, including an upgraded dining room, an 8,000 sq ft fitness gym, a sports lounge with large television screens, a games lounge, and multiple quiet lounges, as well as lockers. The ship has the ability to connect to land-based shore hydro power, reducing the need to use its auxiliary diesel engines, and features industrial-sized heat pumps, sewage treatment with ultrafiltration, and an ultraviolet water purification system. The vessel previously had a capacity for 2,200 passengers and 410 vehicles. Report with photos: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/woodfibre-lng-squamish-floating-hotel-isabelle-cruise-ship-construction-workers
