The Bibby Stockholm, a barge intended to house 500 asylum seekers, has arrived in Dorset at Portland Port. However, reports indicate that two additional ships designated to accommodate asylum seekers have been returned to their owners due to the lack of available docking space.
Opposing groups of pro- and anti-migrant protesters gathered at the quayside as the barge arrived. The controversy surrounding the barge’s arrival has raised concerns about its impact on asylum seekers and the local economy, particularly in the tourist-dependent region.
While the Bibby Stockholm has reached its final destination, it will undergo further preparations to ensure its suitability for habitation. Asylum seekers are not expected to arrive for at least another week.
The government is engaged in discussions to identify additional accommodation facilities and suitable sites to address the docking challenges faced by the two undocked vessels.
The barge, managed by a private firm under a £1.6bn contract, is part of the government’s efforts to provide asylum accommodation and related services. The costs for NHS services, police support, and other public bodies are also covered by the government.
The decision to increase the barge’s capacity from 222 to 506 people has raised concerns, and Conservative MP Richard Drax has described it as a “quasi-prison.” He expressed disappointment over the choice of Portland Port as the location for the barge, emphasizing the lack of prior consultation.
The barge, although not a detention facility, will impose restrictions on the movement of asylum seekers within the port. They will be required to stay onboard the Bibby Stockholm or in an adjacent secure compound. A bus service will be provided to transport asylum seekers to agreed destinations in the local area.
Security measures surrounding the barge have been assessed by counter-terrorism officials, following a terrorist attack on a Channel migrant facility in Dover and targeting of asylum hotels by far-right groups.
Concerns have also been raised about the living conditions onboard the barge. Analysis indicates that when fully occupied, asylum seekers will have less living space than an average parking space. Amnesty International’s 2008 report on the vessel’s previous use by the Dutch government described cramped conditions and psychological distress among detainees.
The use of the barge has faced criticism from organizations such as Freedom From Torture, which called it “cruel and inhumane.” They argue that addressing the asylum backlog should be the government’s priority.
The government defended the use of the barge, citing it as a cost-effective alternative to hotels, where approximately 50,000 people are currently accommodated at a daily cost of £6 million.