Tallink’s RoPax Isabelle arrives in British Columbia to start long-term charter after conversion to a floatel

The Tallink-owned RoPax Isabelle arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, via Las Palmas and the Panama Canal, on 3 January to start her long-term charter to Vancouver-based floatel specialist Bridgemans Services Group (BSG) as a luxury accommodate vessel for workers building the Woodfibre LNG export terminal, near Squamish, British Columbia.

Isabelle will start taking on board workers from spring 2024. When operational, the Woodfibre LNG plant will be the world’s first new zero LNG export terminal.

The Tallink ferry has been converted into a floatel to provide high-end accommodation for more than 600 workers working on the construction of the new LNG facility.  Work on the 1989-built 35,154gt ferry, carried out alongside in Estonia and in drydock at Finland’s Turku Repair Yard, in Naantali, focussed on the vessel’s environmental systems, living quarters, dining areas and recreational areas and now offers luxurious accommodation for workers in 652 new single berth en-suite cabins, a high-end dining room, lounges, meeting rooms, fast Wi-Fi, offices, medical care centre, a state-of-the-art 8,000 ft² fitness centre, billiards/games room, and dedicated accommodation for crew members.

In her new guides as a floatel, Isabelle now features a wide range of advanced environmental systems, including an ultraviolet water purification system, the ability to run on shore-based hydro power, industrial sized heat pumps and sewage treatment that includes ultra filtration, a low intensity UV unit, and shipping to a waste management facility in BC.

In addition, BSG is designing Isabelle to eliminate waste and recycle as much as possible, while at the same time providing floatel support and workforce transfers through its Marine Services division.