Inside the Bibby Stockholm as rehoming process begins

At 1.50pm last Tuesday asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm began to hear the news that the barge would soon be closed.

- HOLLY BANCROFT

Minutes later, a message went out from the barge manager, calling for residents to gather in the kitchen. Adam, a 26-year old Yemeni asylum seeker, told The Independent of the joy among residents. “I can’t tell you how happy they were,” he said. “They were very happy. Everyone was saying we are not happy just for us but for those who might be moved to the Bibby Stockholm in the future. If you have been through something bad you don’t want it even for your worst enemy.”

Following Labour’s election win, the Home Office announced last week that the controversial barge at Portland port in Dorset will be closed in January 2025. Home office minister Dame Angela Eagle has made the decision not to renew the contract.

The barge, which was expected to house up to 430 people, cost £15.8m to run over the past year and will cost another £19m this financial year.

Around 100 people present on the barge yesterday gathered in the canteen to hear the news from the barge manager directly, Adam said. They were told people who had been living on the Bibby Stockholm for less than six months would have their asylum interviews on the barge, Adam said.

Those who had been there longer would be transferred into temporary accommodation, such as hotels, and have their asylum interviews there.

The interviews are done by Home Office case workers to assess whether someone has a valid claim for refuge in the UK.