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The government says housing asylum seekers in places like Bibby Stockholm will help reduce the cost they pay per day for hotel rooms.
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- Author: Dan Johnson and Michael Sheils McNamee
- Roll, BBC News
- July 22, 2023
Updated 6 hours ago
The ferry is docked in Portland Harbour, in southwest England, and will be home to 500 single men seeking asylum in the European country in the coming weeks.
Stepping on board feels like you are on an old night ferry or an old motel, you feel like you are in a slightly faded environment of the 80’s and 90’s.
Long, confusing hallways lead to relatively spacious cabins that feature a desk, closet, safe, TV, and large windows.
Each bedroom has its own bathroom and there are additional bathrooms on each of the three floors.
Originally there were 222 cabins, but her capacity was increased to 506 after bunk beds were added in each room.
The rooms don’t seem too secluded.
There is a big screen TV room with sofas, a multireligious prayer room and a classroom that can be used for meetings and activities.
Some other common rooms have been converted into additional bedrooms for four to six men, but we are not allowed to see them.
The dining room is spacious and has tables for six people.
The appetizer menu includes eggs and pancakes for breakfast, potato soup and beef stew for dinner.
We were told that the menu will change regularly and cater to individual needs and religious requirements.
In the two central courtyards of the boat there is a gym and an outdoor leisure area.
Men also have access to the pier within a fenced off area. This is to ensure the safety of the port, which is also used by cruise ships, freighters and the navy.
There will be security on board 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The men will receive medical attention on board the ferry or remotely from a team of specialists, the NHS said after residents raised concerns about the impact the new residents’ presence would have on local healthcare.
Buses are available every hour between 9am and 11pm to take asylum seekers to Portland or Weymouth. It’s not a curfew, but if they don’t come back there will be a “wellness call” to see how they’re doing.
The government wants to make it clear that this accommodation is neither cruel nor inhumane, but the Interior Ministry has consistently described it as “simple and functional”.
It certainly doesn’t have the grandeur of an ocean liner: there are no grand staircases, beautiful artwork, or sculptures. The stairs look quite industrial.
It’s light, clean and feels really comfortable.
Some of the journalists on our visit felt that the standard was better than some of the hotels currently hosting asylum seekers in the UK. But of course our stay there only lasted an hour.
Some men can stay on board for nine months. And when it’s full, conditions can be very different.
The government says it currently spends US$7 million (about R$33 million) a day on hotel accommodation for more than 50,000 immigrants.
The Home Office plans to accommodate around 3,000 asylum seekers in nonhotel locations by the autumn, including on the ferry and the former military bases of Wethersfield in Essex and Scampton in Lincolnshire.
Last week, the Interior Ministry announced that the first asylum seekers had moved into military facilities.
For the Bibby Stockholm, it is forecast that 50 people will form the first group to stay on the boat.
When the ferry arrived on Tuesday morning (18 July), it was met with protests from local residents and human rights groups.
Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick said the Government was “clear that those entering the UK illegally should not be accommodated in expensive hotels”.
“Our use of alternative housing and boats provides basic and reasonable standards for the arrival of small boats (carrying immigrants) while their applications (for asylum) are being determined,” he said.
Dorset City Council, where the ship will remain, has received nearly $4,500 per occupied bed at Bibby Stockholm, with further funds made available to the local NHS and police, the Home Office said.
It was also reported that the city council received a donation of nearly US$488,000 (approx. R$2.3 million) to support local charities and volunteers who will provide services on board.