Bibby Stockholm Barge Housing Asylum Seekers to Close in January 2025

The government has announced that the Bibby Stockholm barge, which has been used to accommodate asylum seekers in Dorset, will be shut down when its current contract ends in January 2025.

This vessel, currently housing around 400 individuals, has become a controversial focal point in the ongoing conversation about asylum seeker accommodations. The Home Office stated that terminating the use of this barge is part of a drive to save an expected £7.7 billion in asylum costs over the next decade.

The situation surrounding the Bibby Stockholm has been tense. Last year, the tragic death of Leonard Farruku, a musician seeking asylum from Albania, brought significant scrutiny to the conditions aboard the vessel. His family expressed deep concern for the safety and mental health of the people currently residing there.

Angela Eagle, the minister for border security and asylum, reiterated the commitment to a fair and efficiently operated asylum system. She mentioned that steps are being taken to clear the backlog of asylum claims and to manage accommodation costs that have been piling up for taxpayers.

While many welcomed the announcement, there are unanswered questions about where the individuals on the barge will go after its closure. A spokesperson for Downing Street indicated that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, possibly redirecting them to hotels or other forms of accommodation.

The Bibby Stockholm first became part of the government’s strategy in the summer of 2022 as a temporary solution to reduce hotel costs for housing asylum seekers. However, it has attracted criticism due to various issues, including safety concerns over overcrowding and even reports of toxic bacteria detected shortly after asylum seekers boarded.

Local leaders have also voiced their opposition to the barge’s presence in Portland, with many feeling the community was not properly consulted before its arrival. Council leader Nick Ireland stated that the local authority was always against the decision to place the barge at the port.

As the clock ticks down to January 2025, both the government and local authorities will need to figure out the next steps for the asylum seekers currently on the Bibby Stockholm, amid ongoing debates about best practices for managing asylum seekers in the UK.