Bibby Stockholm: Asylum seekers spent 4 days on barge after Legionella micro organism was found

Aug 14, 2023 at 2:37 AM
Bibby Stockholm: Asylum seekers spent 4 days on barge after Legionella micro organism was found

Asylum seekers spent 4 days on board the Bibby Stockholm barge after Legionella micro organism was found, it has emerged.

Dorset Council says Home Office contractors have been notified in regards to the outcomes final Monday – however all 39 migrants solely left the controversial web site on Friday as a “precautionary measure”.

The council went on to say {that a} Home Office employees member was knowledgeable in regards to the micro organism on Tuesday.

However, a authorities supply has advised Sky News that there isn’t a file of this dialog – and claimed that the Home Office solely acquired a written notification in regards to the Legionella on Wednesday night.

Legionella micro organism may cause a probably lethal lung an infection often called Legionnaires’ illness. It is contracted by folks inhaling droplets of water containing the micro organism.

None of the migrants on the barge have proven any signs of the illness, based on the Home Office.

Ministers are going through questions on who was knowledgeable in regards to the Legionella check outcomes and when.

Sky News has pieced collectively a timeline of when Legionella micro organism was discovered on the barge, and the way lengthy it took earlier than these migrants on board have been evacuated.

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Inside the Bibby Stockholm barge

Tuesday 25 July

Dorset Council’s environmental well being division takes water samples from the Bibby Stockholm barge and sends them to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for testing in its environmental lab facility.

The assessments sometimes take a minimum of 10 days to finish.

Monday 7 August

Initial check outcomes are acquired by Dorset Council – the identical day the primary 15 asylum seekers board the Bibby Stockholm.

Dorset Council mentioned it knowledgeable CTM and Landry & Kling – the businesses contracted by the Home Office to function the barge – that very same day.

A spokesperson mentioned it was not the council’s duty to inform the Home Office in regards to the Legionella, as this fell to the contractors.

Read extra on the Bibby Stockholm:
What’s it like inside the barge?
Barge reminded man of hiding from Islamic State group.

People boarding the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset. The Home Office have said around 50 asylum seekers would board the ship, with the numbers rising to its maximum capacity over the coming months, despite safety concerns raised by some of the county's Conservative MPs and locals. Picture date: Monday August 7, 2023.
Image:
People are pictured boarding the barge on Monday

Tuesday 8 August

Dorset Council’s setting well being group meet the barge’s contractors “to further discuss results”. The council mentioned a Home Office official was “verbally informed of the test results”.

A authorities supply advised Sky News there was no file of that dialog.

A small variety of asylum seekers additionally arrive on the boat the identical day.

Wednesday 9 August

Dorset Council officers go to the barge once more to take additional samples and “concern about control measures” immediate it to alert the UKHSA.

The UKHSA confirmed it was contacted by Dorset Council on Wednesday night.

Sky News has been advised that the primary written notification to the Home Office was additionally that night.

The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset, which will house up to 500 people. The Home Office have said around 50 asylum seekers would board the Bibby Stockholm, with the numbers rising to its maximum capacity over the coming months, despite safety concerns raised by some of the county's Conservative MPs and locals. Picture date: Sunday August 6, 2023.

Thursday 10 August

The UKHSA convenes an “incident management meeting” between Dorset Council, the Home Office and the contractors, in addition to representatives from the NHS.

The assembly concludes no extra passengers ought to be allowed to board the vessel whereas a threat evaluation is carried out.

Those suggestions are later confirmed in writing to the Home Office.

A second incident administration assembly and threat evaluation takes place within the afternoon.

The authorities mentioned it was suggested by the UKHSA to take away the six individuals who had boarded the barge that day.

A call to take away all 39 people as a “further temporary precaution” was not taken till the following day.

The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge docked in Portland in Dorset

Friday 11 August

Asylum seekers will not be evacuated from the barge till Friday – 4 days after Dorset Council says it knowledgeable the barge contractors in regards to the Legionella check outcomes, and three days after it mentioned it advised a Home Office employees member.

Dorset Council mentioned it adopted “the appropriate technical guidance throughout on what to do when a positive Legionella sample is received”.

One of the barge’s contractors, Landry & Kling, mentioned it was “working closely with local authorities to ensure housing solutions are safe and appropriate for service users”.

Landry & Kling mentioned it and its venture companions “have followed all written recommendations made by Dorset Council Environmental Health”.

Sky News has contacted the Home Office to ask when officers have been made conscious of the check end result and when ministers have been advised.

A spokesperson beforehand mentioned the well being and welfare of these on board the vessel “is our utmost priority”.