Seven Standen
The Home Office ignored multiple warnings from health and safety experts when they boarded the first group of asylum seekers onto Bibby Stockholm last week. Located in Dorset, the giant barge was evacuated because of health concerns after just five days.
All 39 migrants on Bibby Stockholm, docked at Portland Harbour, disembarked as a precautionary measure after traces of Legionella bacteria were found in the on-board water system.
This follows warnings from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), health and safety officials, and lawyers (on behalf of asylum seekers) about poor conditions onboard.
Previously, the arrival of asylum seekers was postponed twice because inspectors refused to sign off on the barge’s use.
The contaminated water onboard could cause Legionnaires disease, which is fatal in 10% of cases.
One resident of the barge says a few people onboard developed sore throats and breathing problems.
The Home Office states “no individuals on board have presented with symptoms of Legionnaires'” and the disease isn’t contagious. However, the water contamination is only the most recent controversy about the asylum barge.
Refugee organisations have called it costly, cruel, and inhumane.
What is Bibby Stockholm?
The Bibby Stockholm is the first vessel secured under Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s plans to reduce the cost of asylum accommodation. But the first two delays, caused by health and safety concerns, already cost over £3 million.
Until the water supply is completely clear of contamination, asylum seekers will be housed in the same hotels Bibby Stockholm was expected to supplant.
“Each asylum seeker [has] less living space than an average car parking bay.”
The use of Bibby Stockholm is a flagship part of the government’s plan to deter dangerous Channel crossings by asylum seekers, which the Home Office claim to be at a record high.
One of the barge residents said: “Many of us entered Britain nine to 11 months ago, by airplane. Some of us applied for asylum at the airport. We did not come by boat.”
The giant barge is staying at the Dorset port for at least 18 months, with healthcare, catering facilities, and 24-hour security provided for asylum seekers.
Life on a ‘potential deathtrap’
Only a week ago the FBU raised concerns about overcrowding and difficulties accessing fire exits, warning that the asylum barge is a “potential deathtrap”.
Although the vessel was built to house a total of 222 people, it will provide long-term housing for up to 500 asylum seekers. Between two to six people share a room, with each asylum seeker having less living space than an average car parking bay. The dining hall has capacity for fewer than 150 people.
What’s more, there are no lifejackets onboard, the evacuation point is “completely inadequate”, and there are fears the locked gates could cause a crush in an emergency.
A previous intervention in July raised concerns that the barge could be a “floating Grenfell”.
Health concerns ignored
Shortly before asylum seekers boarded Bibby Stockholm, a draft “outbreak management plan” was released by NHS Dorset.
It includes warnings about the “large numbers” of people potentially affected if an infectious disease breaks out onboard.
Lawyers acting on behalf of asylum seekers submitted last-minute legal challenges on the basis of the document.
“They clearly haven’t completed the safety checks properly.”
Concerns about healthcare follow outbreaks of diphtheria at the Manston detention centre. There was also a scabies case at the Wethersfield military base. Care4Calais says the discovery of Legionella bacteria onboard validates the health and safety concerns voiced about the barge.
Labour’s Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock says: “They [the UK government] clearly haven’t completed the safety checks properly.”
Bibby Stockholm is a ‘quasi-prison’
An Afghan asylum seeker compared life onboard to “entering Alcatraz prison”. He says many residents take heavy drugs for depression.
According to the Home Office, basic healthcare, organised activities, and recreation supports resident welfare on Bibby Stockholm. There is a television in each room but to encourage ‘socialising’, all networks are disconnected.
“Plans to house up to 500 men, who are awaiting the outcome of asylum applications, are still in place.”
Security guards (including those with military backgrounds) are onboard 24/7.
Richard Drax, the Conservative MP for South Dorset, calls the vessel a “quasi-prison”. Nobody can leave the “secure compound” without waiting for a shuttle bus to take them to the port exit.
People sign out when they leave the barge and sign in when they return “so [the Home Office] can assure your safety”. There are ‘welfare calls’ if residents haven’t returned to the barge by 11pm.
Drax says Portland Port was the wrong place for the barge, due to how “restricted” it is.
What’s next for Bibby Stockholm?
All migrants were reportedly informed they will return to the barge in a week.
While the Home Office refuses to recognise the claim, it has not provided any details about the timeframe for moving back.
Plans to house up to 500 men, who are awaiting the outcome of asylum applications, are still in place.
“The Home Office aim to house 3,000 asylum seekers in places that aren’t hotels.”
Migrants report they were originally forced to move to Bibby Stockholm against their will. The Home Office threatened to remove their access to aid and the NHS if they didn’t.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffiths says asylum seekers “will be taken outside of the asylum support system” if they don’t comply.
By the autumn, the Home Office aim to house 3,000 asylum seekers in places that aren’t hotels. These include barges and former military sites.
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Featured image courtesy of Stephen & Helen Jones on Flickr. No changes made to this image. Image license is here.
Seven Standen
Seven (they/them) is a BA History and Sociology student at the University of Warwick. They are a freelance journalist, disability advocate, and lover of cats.