Inuvik (Nov 19/04) - A Mackenzie Delta company has added a second floating base camp to its assets, setting the stage for taking a bigger share of the gas boom.

Purchased for $5 million by Beaufort Oilfield Support Services, the John Wurmlinger, a five-storey, 40-room camp complete with machine shop, overhead crane, construction support facility and accommodations, has already been put into action at Ellice Island in the Beaufort Sea.

The facility will provide a six- to eight-week head start on the time oil and gas companies spend making ice roads and ferrying equipment to and from site, Russell Newmark, president of the company

"This way, your supplies and equipment can be pulled within two kilometres of where they are needed rather than being 100km away."

Beaufort Oilfield Support Services is a partnership established five years ago between E. Gruben's Transport and Mullen Transportation Inc. out of Alberta.

Bruce Mullen, senior vice-president of Mullen Transportation Inc., said the float base purchase will better position the joint venture.

"We believe the pipeline is going to come to fruition and we believe in economic development that will provide jobs and opportunities for people in the region to work on various major projects," he said.

Last year, Beaufort Oilfield Support Services bought a similar vessel called the Arctic Star.

"We will continue to look at opportunities in the Western Arctic with Gruben's," said Mullen.