Two large cruise ships, intended to accommodate up to 1,000 asylum seekers, have been unable to secure docking locations and have been returned to their owners, according to a senior source briefed on the matter.
In an effort to reduce the government’s daily expenditure of £6 million on hotel accommodations for asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boat Channel crossings, the government had acquired two additional vessels alongside the Bibby Stockholm barge, which recently arrived in Dorset.
However, plans to use one of the cruise ships to house asylum seekers near Liverpool were abandoned after the port operator declined the request. Additionally, it is understood that docking for one of the ships near Edinburgh was also refused. The details regarding the cost of acquiring the vessels from their owners before their return remain undisclosed.
A spokesperson from the Home Office declined to comment on the commercial arrangements but emphasized that the government had been exploring alternative accommodation options to hotels, aiming for solutions that offer better value for taxpayers. The spokesperson highlighted the use of barges as one such alternative, citing their manageability and the example set by neighbouring European countries.
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, previously stated that Channel crossings had decreased by 20% compared to the previous year, suggesting that the government’s efforts to “stop the boats” were proving effective. He expressed the view that housing asylum seekers on ships could alleviate pressures on local communities. The Bibby Stockholm barge, which has arrived in Dorset with a delay of one month, is expected to begin accommodating asylum seekers in the upcoming weeks.
The government has not disclosed the names of the two other vessels acquired or the companies from which they were purchased.
The utilisation of cruise ships and barges as temporary accommodations for asylum seekers is part of the government’s broader strategy to address the challenges posed by increasing arrivals and reducing costs associated with housing individuals in hotels.
