Bibby Stockholm Barge Now Empty of Asylum Seekers

A local support group has confirmed that the final asylum seeker has departed from the Bibby Stockholm barge. The BBC has learned that these eight individuals were scheduled to vacate the Portland, Dorset accommodation on Tuesday. This development follows the relocation of 300 residents from the barge in October to various locations, such as Cardiff, Wolverhampton, Bristol, and Worksop. An operation, projected to last “several weeks,” is now set to commence for the vessel’s return to its owners, Bibby Marine. The Portland Global Friendship Group, an organization that provides assistance to the asylum seekers housed on the barge, reported that the final individual disembarked around 11:00 GMT. Sophie Cridland, a BBC reporter, interviewed an asylum seeker who departed the vessel on Monday and is relocating to Hampshire. This individual stated that 18 men were present on board during the weekend, with 10 departing on Monday and the remaining eight anticipated to leave on Tuesday. The BBC had previously reported that the men were being “dispersed around the country,” a process that began in October. Nick Ireland, the leader of Dorset Council, had previously affirmed that the men would not be accommodated within the Dorset or Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole regions. The BBC understands that the vessel is scheduled to be towed away from Portland in January, coinciding with the expiration of the contract between the Home Office and Portland Port.