Ministers are preparing to send the first 50 individuals to a controversial barge designated for housing asylum seekers next Tuesday. However, there have been growing calls for a postponement due to safety concerns.
The government had initially planned to commence operations on the Bibby Stockholm, a barge with a capacity of 500 people, in Dorset on Thursday. Nevertheless, this date has been pushed back to next Tuesday after facing challenges.
Chris Loder, the Conservative MP for West Dorset, has been pushing for a risk assessment from immigration minister Robert Jenrick and the Maritime Coastguard Agency, but none has been provided.
Safety concerns have been raised following a visit by a group of councillors, who discovered a lack of lifejackets onboard the barge. The Financial Times reported that repair work on the Bibby Stockholm had been necessary in Falmouth due to parts of the hull being found to be rotten.
Nicola David, of the One Life to Live campaign, raised concerns about fire safety on board, citing narrow corridors and the practice of accommodating two asylum seekers in cabins previously intended for one person. She questioned whether Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue authority had inspected the barge and conducted a comprehensive fire risk assessment to ensure safety.
The capacity issue was also highlighted, as the barge was designed for 222 people, but the government plans to accommodate 506 individuals with increased furnishings and staff.
Calls for assurance and safety have been made by concerned parties, urging the Home Office to delay the arrival of any asylum seekers until all safety aspects are thoroughly addressed.
Both Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service and the Home Office claim to have conducted inspections and taken measures to ensure fire safety and compliance with relevant regulations. The Home Office asserted that the barge had undergone statutory inspection and refurbishment and was currently berthed in Portland for final preparations before receiving asylum seekers.
Home Office sources state that agencies like Dorset council, Dorset police, and Dorset fire and rescue will ensure compliance with regulations, including adequate provisions for safe evacuation in the event of a fire. Before leaving Falmouth, the vessel received inspection and certification from Lloyd’s Register.
The Health & Safety Executive clarified that Dorset council is responsible for the barge and its surrounding quayside, and they conducted a planned visit alongside the environmental health team. Construction safety advice was provided, and any concerns have since been addressed.
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