Up to 18 months on the Bibby Stockholm: the first UK asylum-seeking migrants arrive on the controversial barge

The British Government transferred this Monday a first group of asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm bedroom boat, which moored last month at the Portland pier, in the English county of Dorset, amid shouts of protest from activists and residents of the area. The barge, which will accommodate 500 migrants, has three floors and is made up of 222 cabins.

According to the Government's plan, the boat will be the accommodation for asylum seekers for a period of eighteen months, who boarded this Monday after noon while their asylum applications are processed in the United Kingdom.. The floating platform is also 93 meters long and three heights structured around a central patio.

In addition, in general cases, while asylum seekers wait for their visa, they cannot legally work and receive a weekly allowance of about 50 euros per week, including the cost of maintenance.. This is not the case for the already inhabitants of the Bibby Stockholm, who will only have 11 euros a week, since food will be served three times a day on the boat and there will be an almost continuous supply of water, tea and soup. In addition, they will receive medical attention and Internet access and English lessons, according to government sources.. Security guards will control the departure and return to the boat and the movements of the port will be carried out with a special bus service, until 11 at night.

“A Shameful Way”

It is estimated that local authorities spend about six million pounds (6.96 million euros) a day to accommodate migrants who are in an irregular situation in hotels. Thus, the Executive of the United Kingdom is confident that this barge will reduce the bill it pays in hotels to accommodate new arrivals, although the measure has been criticized by humanitarian organizations and local entities in Dorset county.

Called a prison ship by several NGOs, in a letter addressed to the owner of the vessel, the Liverpool-based company Bibby Marine, they assert that “it is cruel and inhumane to retain, especially on a floating vessel, people who have suffered traumatizing experiences “.

For his part, the director of the rights of migrants and refugees of the humanitarian organization Amnesty International (AI), Steve Valdez-Symonds, criticized the measure today, indicating that it is “a completely shameful way of sheltering people who have fled of terror, conflict and persecution.” “Housing people on a floating barge is likely to re-traumatize,” he added.