Kitimat Modernization

Challenge

Rio Tinto Alcan’s aluminum smelter is in the remote Canadian coastal town of Kitimat, British Columbia. It underwent a full modernization refit after nearly 60 years in operation. Located on the Douglas Channel, one of Western Canada’s only deep-water ports, an ideal location for large vessels to arrive from ports globally.

This client required accommodation for up to 650 engineers, technicians and administrative staff, hailing from all over the globe, while providing world-class catering and accommodation. Additionally, a partnership with the local Haisla Nation communities resulted in more than half of the workforce were from the surrounding area.

Solution

Providing an appropriately suited vessel in a short amount of time was priority number one for the Bridgemans team. Chartering the MS Silja Festival, our management and maintenance teams were deployed to ensure that the vessel would be ready to welcome the first guests upon arriving at the RTA docks.

Along with an extraordinary crew from both Europe and Canada, we developed a custom experience, tailored to fit the requests and needs of the client, while providing leading-edge catering, accommodations and activities for our guests. Menus rotated regularly to include dishes reflective of the home countries of our guests, while housekeeping provided daily room service, and on-demand laundry services. The 24-hour reception team not only provided best-in-class customer service, but ensured the safety and security of the guests, crew and vessel by implementing MARSEC level security at all points of entry.

Technical requirements included the utilization of locally generated hydro-electric power, and the adaptation of shore-side water treatment facilities.