![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/bibby-stockholm-barge-arrivals-expected-in-coming-days/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/130558634_09b4be04d270c964a186a02cd0c21d78d2cf00fa.jpg&description=Image source, PA Media Image caption, The first 50 asylum seekers had originally been expected to move into the barge on Tuesday Asylum seekers will begin arriving on the UK's first migrant barge "in the coming days", the immigration minister has said. Robert Jenrick said about 50 men would board the Bibby Stockholm, moored at Portland in Dorset, later this week. The first tranche of arrivals were due last week but safety issues, including the suggestion the vessel was a "death trap" , caused a delay. The minister said he considered the barge a "safe facility". Mr Jenrick told Sky News: "We hope that the first migrants will go on to the boat in the coming days, I'm not going to give you an exact date - but very soon. "For security reasons we prefer not to give the dates on which individuals arrive. "You won't have long to wait. This is an important step forwards." Image source, PA Media/Google Image caption, Portland councillors and campaign groups had argued against the barge ahead of its arrival in July He added that increasing the numbers on the barge to the capacity of 500 was still the plan despite concerns from the Fire Brigades Union that the vessel had originally been designed to house 200 people. The barge is seen as a key part of the government's strategy to deter migrants from arriving on UK shores in small boat. Ministers have said it would help cut the £6m-a-day cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels while their claims are processed. After an initial delay while works were carried out in Cornwall, the Bibby Stockholm was met by opposition from some residents when it arrived at the port on 18 July over fears it could put strain on local services. Human rights groups have also described the decision to house migrants on a barge as "inhumane". Image caption, The rooms on the barge were first converted to house asylum seekers in Germany in the 1990s Reporters were invited to look inside the barge last month , with pictures showing a TV room with a big scr){kind=link}
Asylum seekers will begin arriving on the UK’s first migrant barge “in the coming days”, the immigration minister has said.
Robert Jenrick said about 50 men would board the Bibby Stockholm, moored at Portland in Dorset, later this week.
The first tranche of arrivals were due last week but safety issues, including the suggestion the vessel was a “death trap”, caused a delay.
The minister said he considered the barge a “safe facility”.
Mr Jenrick told Sky News: “We hope that the first migrants will go on to the boat in the coming days, I’m not going to give you an exact date – but very soon.