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Bibby Stockholm: Inside 'floatel' as first asylum seekers board barge

The first asylum seekers have boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset, on Monday, despite local opposition.

Jimmy Nsubuga and Harriet Sinclair

Updated 7 August 2023 at 5:12 am·6-min read

People boarding the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset. The Home Office have said around 50 asylum seekers would board the ship, with the numbers rising to its maximum capacity over the coming months, despite safety concerns raised by some of the county's Conservative MPs and locals. Picture date: Monday August 7, 2023. — People boarding the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset on Monday. (PA)

The first asylum seekers have arrived on to the Bibby Stockholm barge.

More people are set to board the vessel docked in Portland Port, Dorset, later on Monday, despite local opposition.

Up to 500 men aged 18 to 65 will be housed on the barge while awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications.

Home Office junior minister Sarah Dines said earlier that the barge could be at its 500 capacity by the end of the week, but Downing Street later played down her suggestions.

Several asylum seekers did not board the barge because their transfers were "cancelled" by lawyers, according to one refugee charity.

People carrying bags are seen walking up the gang-way into the the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge, moored to the quayside at Portland Port in Portland, on the south-west coast of England on August 7, 2023. Britain on Monday began housing migrants on board a barge docked off the south-west English coast, in its latest controversial immigration policy that has drawn heavy criticism from locals and rights campaigners. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) — People carrying bags are seen walking on to the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge. (AFP via Getty Images)

The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset, which will house up to 500 people. The Home Office have said around 50 asylum seekers would board the Bibby Stockholm, with the numbers rising to its maximum capacity over the coming months, despite safety concerns raised by some of the county's Conservative MPs and locals. Picture date: Monday August 7, 2023. (Photo by James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images) — The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset, which will house up to 500 people. (PA Images via Getty Images)

Steve Smith, chief executive of Care4Calais, said: “None of the asylum seekers we are supporting have gone to the Bibby Stockholm today as legal representatives have had their transfers cancelled.

“Amongst our clients are people who are disabled, who have survived torture and modern slavery and who have had traumatic experiences at sea. To house any human being in a ‘quasi floating prison’ like the Bibby Stockholm is inhumane. To try and do so with this group of people is unbelievably cruel. Even just receiving the notices is causing them a great deal of anxiety.

“Human beings should be housed in communities, not barges. The government could just get on with processing people’s asylum claims, instead they are playing to a gallery that seems to thrive on human suffering. We will continue supporting people to challenge their decision.”

The floating accommodation barge docked almost three weeks ago, but has been empty because of health and safety concerns.

The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset, which will house up to 500 people. The Home Office have said around 50 asylum seekers would board the Bibby Stockholm, with the numbers rising to its maximum capacity over the coming months, despite safety concerns raised by some of the county's Conservative MPs and locals. Picture date: Sunday August 6, 2023. — The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset. (PA)

The government insists the barge is safe and operational, as it also reportedly considers reviving plans to fly people who arrive by unauthorised means 4,000 miles to Ascension Island.

The proposals to use the British Overseas Territory are apparently being considered by ministers and officials as a “Plan B” if its Rwanda scheme fails.

Located in the South Atlantic, the volcanic island could house an asylum processing centre as an attempt to reduce the number of small boats crossing the English Channel from France.

Watch: Asylum seekers to be housed on Bibby Stockholm barge in 'coming days'

The plans to remove asylum seekers who arrive by unauthorised means to Rwanda have been stalled by legal challenges that will end up in the Supreme Court.

Read more on the Bibby Stockholm:

- Bibby Stockholm barge could accept asylum seekers as soon as Monday (PA Media, 2 mins)

- Asylum seekers to be housed on barge as government unveils new migration policy (Sky News, 3 mins)

- Why some people are so angry about the Bibby Stockholm barge (Yahoo News UK, 4 mins)

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said the Bibby Stockholm is a “safe facility” after the firefighters’ union warned it is a “potential deathtrap”, citing concerns including overcrowding and access to fire exits.

He said increasing the numbers on the barge to the capacity of around 500 is still the plan despite concerns from the Fire Brigades Union over the vessel initially designed to house about 200.

The Bibby Stockholm, which will be used to house 500 asylum seekers, has arrived in the UK.

Around 500 people will live on the barge, while port officials are reportedly concerned about protests from far-right groups. (PA) — About 500 people will live on the Bibby Stockholm barge. (PA)

The barge will eventually be docked at Portland Port in Dorset. (PA)

Human rights campaigners are among critics who've also condemned the move, but prime minister Rishi Sunak has defended the use of the barge, insisting it would save taxpayers money.

Dines said on Monday that the barge could house 500 asylum seekers by the end of the week.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes, quite possibly it will be 500. We are hoping."

But the prime minister’s official spokesman said later: “Numbers will increase over time as you would expect for any new asylum facility.”

“All I would say is that my understanding is that the Bibby Stockholm has an upward capacity of 500.

“We are looking to (reach) that number over time — I don’t think we are aiming to do it by the weekend.”

The government hopes the use of the barge and former military bases to house asylum seekers will reduce the cost of hotel bills.

Inside the Bibby Stockholm barge

The grey and red exterior of the Bibby Stockholm has a dining hall, kitchen and games area complete with pool table.

There also appears to be a bar on the floating accommodation, as well as gym facilities.

The photos provide a glimpse inside one of the 222 bedrooms on board with one image showing a shower room.

The barge can can house up to 506 people. (PA) — The barge can house up to 506 people. (PA)

The dining facilities on board the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge. (PA)

Dining facilities on the vessel. (PA)

Sunak said: “We are spending, as a country, £6m a day housing illegal asylum seekers in hotels – that can’t be right.

“I’ve committed to reducing that number, moving asylum seekers out of hotels and that means we need to find alternative sites, including barges like the one we’ve brought forward today."

A relaxation room with a pool table. (PA)

A bar area on the barge. (PA)

One of the 222 bedrooms on the barge. (PA)

Human rights organisations have criticised the “cruelty” of “confining” hundreds of vulnerable people on a barge, as they blamed the government for creating the backlog of asylum claims.

Human rights campaigners Amnesty International condemned the decision to house asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, said: “It seems there’s nothing this government won’t do to make people seeking asylum feel unwelcome and unsafe in this country.

“Reminiscent of the prison hulks from the Victorian era, the Bibby Stockholm is an utterly shameful way to house people who’ve fled terror, conflict and persecution.

“Housing people on a floating barge is likely to be retraumatising and there should be major concerns about confining each person to living quarters the typical size of a car parking space.”

Watch: Government defends 'basic' accommodation on Bibby Stockholm barge