Asylum seekers to be housed on Bibby barge ‘in coming days’, minister says
T
he first asylum seekers will go on to the Bibby Stockholm barge “in the coming days”, the immigration minister has mentioned after a sequence of delays amid security considerations.
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick mentioned round 50 individuals will enter the vessel in Portland Port, Dorset, as a part of a primary tranche this week.
He provided a assure that it’s a “safe facility” after the firefighters’ union warned it’s a “potential deathtrap”, citing considerations together with overcrowding and entry to fireside exits.
After an preliminary delay whereas works had been carried out in Cornwall, the Bibby barge was met by native opposition when it arrived in Portland on July 18.
Various anticipated dates have been given after which missed for the primary individuals to be housed on it, however Mr Jenrick mentioned will probably be this week.
“We hope that the first migrants will go on to the boat in the coming days, I’m not going to give you an exact date – but very soon,” he informed Sky News.
“For security reasons we prefer not to give the dates on which individuals arrive.
“You won’t have long to wait. This is an important step forwards.
“I can absolutely assure you that this is a safe facility.”
He mentioned rising the numbers on the barge to the capability of round 500 remains to be the plan regardless of considerations from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) over the vessel initially designed to accommodate about 200.