An accommodation barge that will house hundreds of asylum seekers will soon arrive in Dorset having its berth in Cornwall.

The Bibby Stockholm is tasked with housing 500 asylum seekers who are in the later stages of their application process. 

It will be situated at Portland Port for the next 18 months, having just left Falmouth Harbour at around 9am this morning.

The plan to house migrants in the boat has seen substantial pushback from the local council, Conservative MP Richard Drax and local Dorset protest groups, as well as human rights activists.

The Home Office confirmed the barge had left harbour in a statement in which they also highlighted that European countries use similar housing strategies for migrants.

READ MORE Staggering cost of migrant barges finally unveiled

The Bibby Stockholm was previously used to hire asylum seekers in the Netherlands in the 2000s but was taken out of service after a Dutch media investigation uncovered abuses taking place on board.

Meanwhile the Scottish government has been using cruise ships as temporary accommodation to house Ukrainian refugees since July last year, leasing two 700-cabin ships to house up to 3,500 people.

The statement from the Home Office said: “We can confirm that Bibby Stockholm is now on its way to Portland Port.

“Using vessels as alternative accommodation, like our European neighbours are already doing, will be better value for British taxpayers and more manageable for communities than costly hotels.

“We continue to work extremely closely with local councils and key partners to prepare for arrival of asylum seekers later this month and minimise disruption for local residents including through substantial financial support.”

The boat had been due in Portland a month ago, but was delayed. 

A finalised deal between the Home Office and Dorset Council will see the government providing £3,500 per occupied bed space, as well as a one-off payment of £377,000 to help provide asylum seekers with activities, volunteering opportunities and English-speaking lessons via local voluntary and community organisations.

The first group of asylum seekers to be accommodated will move onto the vessel later this month, before rising to a total of 500 migrants.

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Leader of Dorset Council Spencer Flower said the council had done all it can to prevent the vessel being moored outside Portland, and reiterated his belief that it is not the right place for it.

Two further barges were announced last month to house up to 1,000 migrants.

Rishi Sunak said the barges “will relieve pressure on local communities” and spaces in hotels being used to house migrants.

Before the barges arrive, the government will do “extensive engagement with local communities”, the PM added.

The total cost of the Home Office’s plan for the migrant crisis was revealed last month, totalling £1.6 billion.

The enormous contract was handed to controversial Australian travel firm Corporate Management Travel to establish the ships, bridging accommodation and travel services, according to The Independent.

But Mr Drax suggested the cost could be even higher than £1.6billion, saying: “The point is this is taxpayers’ money, this contract might actually be separate from what the ports are being paid.

“Then on top of that the police want money, the health authority wants money, of course the council wants money, and yet the government continues to insist that this is cheaper than hotels. The overall figure will be alarmingly high.”

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