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Worker Accommodation Vessels for Project and Crew Housing

Worker accommodation vessels and barges for charter or sale. Crew housing for mining, LNG, shipyards, infrastructure and offshore wind projects worldwide.

Large projects often stall on a simple problem: there is nowhere for the workforce to sleep. Local hotels fill up, rental housing is scarce, and building a land camp takes time, land and permits. A worker accommodation vessel brings the beds, galley, mess, laundry and recreation spaces with it, and berths close to the work.

QPS Marine Ships brokers the charter and sale of accommodation vessels (ships and barges), passenger ships and ferries worldwide. We help project owners, contractors and their procurement teams find the right workforce housing vessel and agree a workable charter.

Who uses accommodation vessels

  • Mining projects near the coast or on navigable rivers, especially in remote regions with little housing.

  • LNG and energy projects, including terminal construction, maintenance shutdowns and offshore field work.

  • Shipyards that need extra labor for a newbuilding, conversion or major repair program.

  • Infrastructure works such as ports, bridges, power plants and coastal defenses.

  • Remote construction where the nearest town cannot absorb hundreds of extra workers.

  • Offshore wind, where installation and commissioning crews may need housing near the port base or the field.

Accommodation vessel vs land camp

Land camps are the default in many industries, but a vessel can be the faster or more flexible choice.

| | Accommodation vessel | Land camp |
|---|---|---|
| Speed to deploy | Arrives ready to use once berthed and connected | Needs site prep, transport of modules, assembly and hook-up |
| Land and permits | No land purchase or lease; port and environmental approvals still needed | Land lease or purchase, plus building and planning permits |
| Relocation | Can move to the next project by sea | Must be dismantled and transported |
| Services included | Galley, mess, laundry, recreation and life-support already on board | Must be supplied, built or contracted separately |
| Site restoration | Minimal; vessel leaves at the end | Land often needs to be restored |
| Main constraint | Needs a suitable berth or sheltered mooring | Needs suitable land near the site |

A vessel is not always the right answer. If no berth is available near the work, or the project runs for many years inland, a land camp may cost less. We will tell you if a vessel does not fit.

What is included on board

Most accommodation vessels can offer an all-in package:

  • Cabins, typically single, twin or multi-berth, with shared or private bathrooms depending on the vessel.

  • Catering: galley, mess rooms and a planned menu cycle, often 24-hour for shift work.

  • Laundry and housekeeping.

  • Recreation: gym, TV lounges, internet (subject to available connectivity).

  • Medical room and first aid.

  • Life-saving and fire-fighting equipment, with marine crew trained to use them.

Exact facilities vary by vessel. Ask for the full specification of any unit you are considering.

Charter structures in plain terms

There are three common ways to hire an accommodation vessel. Each splits cost and responsibility differently.

Bareboat charter

You hire the vessel only. You (or a ship manager you appoint) provide the crew, insurance, maintenance and operation for the charter period. It gives the most control and is often the lowest-cost option, but you carry the most responsibility. Bareboat charters are often written on a standard form such as BIMCO's BARECON, amended for the deal.

Time charter

The owner provides the vessel with its marine crew and keeps it maintained and insured. You pay a daily hire rate and direct how the vessel is used within the charter terms. You usually still arrange hotel services and pay for consumables such as fuel and water, depending on the contract.

Hotel-service or accommodation-service contract

The owner, or an owner and hotel operator together, provides the vessel, the marine crew and all hotel services. You pay per occupied bed, per person per day, or a fixed daily rate for a set number of berths. This is the closest to booking a hotel and the simplest for a project team that does not want to run a ship.

| | Bareboat | Time charter | Hotel-service contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who supplies marine crew | Charterer | Owner | Owner |
| Who supplies catering and housekeeping | Charterer | Usually charterer | Owner or its hotel operator |
| Who maintains and insures the vessel | Charterer | Owner | Owner |
| Charterer's workload | Highest | Medium | Lowest |

These are general descriptions. Every contract allocates costs and risks in its own way, so read the terms with your advisers.

Planning checklist

  • Headcount and roster: peak berths, shift pattern, single or shared cabins.

  • Location: berth or mooring, water depth, shelter, distance to the work site.

  • Utilities: shore power, fresh water, sewage and garbage disposal.

  • Permits: port, environmental, immigration and customs approvals.

  • Duration: firm period plus options to extend.

  • Logistics: crew transfers between vessel and site, provisioning, waste removal.

  • Standards: client and contractor HSE requirements for the vessel and its operator.

Worker accommodation vessels available for charter

Vessels currently offered for charter through QPS. See all accommodation vessels for charter. Availability changes, and more vessels are available off-market under NDA.

Accommodation vessels

High-capacity cabin ships for large workforces

Frequently asked questions ### What is a worker accommodation vessel?

It is a ship or barge used to house a workforce near a project site, with cabins, catering, laundry and recreation on board. It berths or moors close to the work and can move to the next project when the job ends.

Is an accommodation vessel faster to deploy than a land camp?

Often, yes. A vessel arrives ready to use once it is berthed and connected to services, while a land camp needs land, permits, site preparation and assembly. Port and environmental approvals are still required for a vessel.

What is the difference between bareboat and time charter?

Under a bareboat charter you hire the vessel only and provide the crew, maintenance and insurance yourself. Under a time charter the owner supplies the vessel with its marine crew and keeps it maintained, and you pay a daily hire rate.

Can catering and housekeeping be included?

Yes. Under a hotel-service or accommodation-service contract, the owner or its hotel operator provides catering, laundry and housekeeping along with the vessel and marine crew.

How much does it cost to charter an accommodation barge or vessel?

Rates depend on the vessel, number of berths, location, duration and which services are included. Charter rates are quoted on request once we know your requirements.

Send us your project requirements

Tell us the number of berths, location, start date and duration, the type of charter you prefer, and your budget. We will reply with suitable accommodation vessels, barges and passenger ships, including off-market options.

Capt. Ken Caine, Managing Broker – +1-516-647-5129 (mobile/WhatsApp), sales@qpsships.com
Jeff Garcia, Managing Broker, Mediterranean Sea Area – +1-954-296-9066, Jeffgarcia@qpsships.com
Office: 4000 Island Blvd, Suite 1506, Aventura, FL 33160

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