Bibby Stockholm asylum barge next steps announced

The barge has capacity for up to 500 men, aged between 18 and 65

The next steps to shut down a barge off the south coast that houses asylum seekers have been revealed by the government.

It was previously announced the contract for the Bibby Stockholm, which is moored off Portland in Dorset, would expire in January.

After they leave the barge, none of the asylum seekers - who are all men - will be moved to Portland, Weymouth, or the wider Dorset Council area, the Home Office has confirmed.

They will instead be "dispersed across the country", it continued.

The three-storey vessel has 222 rooms for asylum seekers to live in

What is the Bibby Stockholm?

The Bibby Stockholm is a barge used to house male asylum seekers while they await a decision on whether they can stay in the UK.

Since docking in Portland in July 2023, the barge has faced controversy, with some locals on Portland claiming they had not been consulted.

Traces of Legionella bacteria were found in the vessel's on-board water system, just days after the first asylum seekers boarded in August 2023.

Welfare concerns were also sparked after Albanian national Leonard Farruku, 27, was found dead in his cabin. He was thought to have taken his own life.

The government said everyone on the barge had been provided with "adequate, functional accommodation" which met all relevant legal requirements.

Its closure was announced in July.

The first asylum seekers boarded the barge in August 2023

When will the barge leave Portland?

The Bibby Stockholm will start shutting down at the end of November - an operation which is expected to take "several weeks".

In early January, the vessel will be handed back to its owners, Bibby Marine.

It is not yet known when the barge itself will leave Portland.

The government said the decision was a matter for Bibby Marine and Portland Port.

Where will the asylum seekers go?

Asylum seekers currently on the Bibby Stockholm will be moved off the barge to receive their asylum decision.

The decision will determine whether or not they can continue living in the UK and each person will be moved off the barge before being told their result.

They would either be asked to leave the UK or would be "dispersed across the country", the Home Office said.

No asylum seekers will be moved to Portland, Weymouth, or the wider Dorset Council area, the government added.

It has not revealed whether that includes the entire county of Dorset, leaving questions over whether migrants could be housed in the Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole (BCP) Council area.

BCP Council has declined to comment.

In December, an asylum seeker housed on the Bibby Stockolm used his phone to translate a message about the conditions on board

Why is the barge shutting down?

The decision to close the barge was announced in July, shortly after the Labour government came into power.

It is part of a commitment to “clear the backlog and fix the asylum system”, according to the Home Office.

Ending its use is part of a plan to save about £7.7 billion in asylum costs over the next ten years.

It would have cost more than £20m to carry on using the barge next year.

The previous Conservative government introduced the Bibby Stockholm to ease the pressure on the asylum system.

Asylum-seekers are issued with ID swipe cards and have to pass through airport-style security scans to get on and off

Will those on board get any support?

Residents on the barge will be given information explaining how their asylum claim will be progressed.

The asylum seekers will have access to legal representatives, the government added.

Private rooms for in-person or over-the-phone discussions will also be provided.

It was not mentioned whether the men would receive any counselling or mental health support.

The Home Office has been approached for further comment.