Aboard the Bibby Stockholm; what should asylum seekers and refugees expect on the accommodation vessel?

The first set of refugees has now boarded the barge Bibby Stockholm earlier today, as the UK’s plans to house asylum seekers at Portland Port in Dorset have begun despite many calls to the UK government about alternative methods in housing those seeking refugee status in the United Kingdom.  

Though the government have claimed it would "offer better value for money for taxpayers than hotels," dissension still exists regarding the plan to house 506 asylum seekers until their case has been reviewed and then given the all-clear or are sent back to their country of origin. 

Serious safety concerns regarding the Bibby Stockholm were highlighted in a Guardian report, including overcrowding (with 546 people including staff living on a barge designed for 222 people) along with very narrow corridors and no lifejackets on board, while an open letter signed by over 50 NGOs, MPs and peers called on the barge's owner, Bibby Marine, part of Bibby Line, to acknowledge its founder John Bibby's links to the Atlantic slave trade and to end the practice of containing asylum seekers on its vessels.

With its 222 cabins, accommodating six people per cabin, those onboard the Bibby Stockholm can expect beige-coloured walls, narrow lino-covered floors and what has been referred to by The Independent as “austere” two-person bunk beds, with some rooms having two of three bunk beds akin to a youth hostel - which almost seems like how the UK government are framing the accommodation vessel. However, the barge is intended for single adult men only, following suitability assessments and security checks.

Those cabins also have basic amenities including desks, metal wardrobes and en-suite bathrooms, making it more of a youth hostel on water than a detainment centre. Television is available, however, has been disconnected from what Bibby Line believes will encourage “communal activities and socialization.” 

Instead, activities on the barge are said to include sports events, English classes, computer rooms, TV lounges, and “planned outings,” while amenities like outdoor courtyards, a gym, a multi-faith prayer room, laundry services and a nurse are available on-site - complete with a separate area for medical emergencies.

The barge, on one plus side, will help stimulate employment around the area, with contractors to oversee laundry services, 24-hour food provision, and other facilities as part of a deal with the UK government. A voluntary code of conduct for those inhabiting the Bibby Stockholm includes returning to the barge by 11pm and staying overnight. 

Access to the barge is through a "secure compound," and individuals need to wait for a shuttle bus to leave the compound. However, the Home Office encourages the use of hourly buses to the resort town of Weymouth for outings. The vessel has airport-style security, including walk-through scanners and bag checks, for individuals entering and leaving.