Bibby Stockholm contract ends and will not be renewed
The barge in Dorset was used by the government to house 500 migrants but it's believed to have been empty since the end of November last year.
Last updated 11th Jan 2025
The Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, used by the UK Government since 2023 to house asylum seekers, is closing.
It has been confirmed that the contract has expired and will not be extended after Labour said it would cost more than £20m to run in 2025.
It was acquired by the Conservative government in April 2023 with the intention of housing migrants awaiting asylum as this was cheaper than paying for hotel rooms.
The barge had space for about 500 people but had trouble from the start and had to be evacuated almost as soon as it opened when a deadly strain of legionella was discovered onboard.
In December 2023, a man took his own life on the barge, as well as several other health and safety failures.
The last asylum seekers are believed to have left Bibby Stockholm at the end of November last year.
'Great mistake'
Throughout its use, the decision was met with opposition by residents and humanitarian organisations.
Charlotte Khan from Care4Calais says it leaves behind a damaging legacy.
"It will be remembered as a great mistake."
It was set up as a show of what they were willing to do in the fight against people seeking safety."
It's currently unclear when Bibby Stockholm will leave Portland and what it will be used for next.