Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 21/02) - A 43-room hotel opened this week in Inuvik. And it will likely close next week.

The Arctic Star barge hotel was tugged into Inuvik last week to provide some extra accommodation for the Inuvik Petroleum Show.

The barge is owned by E. Gruben Transport. Helping to keep the floating hotel afloat is camp manager Dave Johnson.

He's worked in camps and the Beaufort Delta since 1982 when he moved to Tuktoyaktuk from Vernon B.C. In 1982, Johnson went to work for Gruben's in 1988.

"They put this together about two years ago and I've been with it ever since," Johnson said. "Basically its 27 modules of Atco trailers in a steel shell."

The 74-bed floating camp got its start in 1976 when Dome Petroleum welded together two B.C. railway barges in 1976 and registered the vessel as the Arctic Star.

Drilling rig

"They mounted a drilling rig on it and pulled it out to the islands," Johnson said.

After drilling only one hole, the Arctic Star was towed to a manmade island at McKinnley Bay, north of Tuktoyaktuk.

"The put all their drill ships and rigs in there and then this camp was built in '79 or '80," Johnson said.

Johnson and six other staff members keep the camp afloat and the guests fed, warm and dry after working their days in the Delta. He said they were booked solid last summer and the past two winters.

From drywall to plumbing, and electrical to gas fitting, he's got to be ready for all the projects a hotel encounters without the help of a town full of contractors and parts.

Jack of all trades

"I'm a jack of all trades," he said. "You have to be able to fix a little bit of everything on here."

He works from a fully stocked shop that looks ready to handle anything from a broken toaster to a stuck drill rod.

"If it's too technical, I have to send it out, but for the most part I can handle it."

The "most part" keeps Johnson running while the camp is open for business and he says he enjoys the challenge the job brings.

"Time goes by so fast out here. You're never bored or lacking something to do," he said. "It makes it interesting."

Life is pretty interesting on the barge these days. With the No Vacancy sign in the window, Johnson and crew have been putting in long shifts getting ready for the guests.

"It's packed right to the attic," he said. "We're even putting a bed in the medical room."

Following the petroleum show, the barge will be moored until its services are required for summer seismic.

"The water is all drained and the lines are blown out," he said. "You shut the generators down and lock the doors."

"It's pretty hard on fuel to keep it running for nothing," he said. "But it looks like it's going to be another busy summer."

Like most of the Delta workforce, he hopes the boom returns to the Beaufort.

"It would be nice to see it busy again up here," he said.