The Mirror toured the new giant barge on the sea in Dorset where asylum seekers who may have fled war or persecution will be made to share bunk beds in 222 bedrooms
Asylum seekers who may have fled war or persecution will be made to share bunk beds on a giant barge in Dorset.
The Bibby Stockholm, docked in Portland Port, will house up to 506 migrants in 222 bedrooms. The first guests are set to arrive on board next week. Today the Mirror toured the barge where the accommodation is spread over three floors.
On the vessel, which is the length of a football pitch, four fifths of the rooms have two beds, although some have four or six. The bunk beds do not have privacy curtains and rooms have a shared shower room.
Migrants – who are referred to as “service users” by officials – can leave the gated compound at any time by foot after being escorted to the main gate by security. There will also be a bus service once an hour which will drop them at four different stops in the local area between 7am-11pm. If they miss the last bus back to the barge, they will be able to call a local taxi firm that has been given a contract.