The UK’s labor government announced Tuesday that it will end the Bibby Stockholm barge contract as of January 2025.

The decision not to renew the contract is part of the government’s strategy to clear the asylum backlog and reform the asylum system. The Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, emphasized the need to restore order to the asylum system, stating:

We are determined to restore order to the asylum system, so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly; and ensures the rules are properly enforced. The Home Secretary has set out plans to start clearing the asylum backlog and making savings on accommodation which is running up vast bills for the taxpayer. The Bibby Stockholm will continue to be in use until the contract expires in January 2025.

This will accordingly contribute to the expected £7.7 billion in savings on asylum costs over the next decade, as the Home Secretary takes action to restart asylum casework and remove those with no right to be here. Otherwise, extending the use of Bibby Stockholm would cost over £20 million next year.

The Bibby Stockholm currently houses around 400 migrants off the coast of Dorset. It is a barge specifically used to accommodate people, and the UK government has had a contract to use the barge for asylum seekers since August 2023. It currently houses around 400 migrants off the coast of Dorset.

This was part of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s plan to reduce the cost of asylum housing by housing asylum seekers on barges, as well as other less costly forms of accommodation. This, however, has faced many legal hurdles and criticisms. For example, the Fire Brigades Union had launched a legal challenge to the UK Home Office for failing to arrange fire drills for asylum seekers or adequate risk assessments of the barge, despite more than doubling the number of planned occupants. Migrants were also forced to leave after Legionella bacteria was found in the barge’s water system, putting them at risk of Legionella disease. Additionally, in December 2023, Albanian migrant Leonard Farruku was found dead in his cabin, sparking welfare concerns from campaigners about the living conditions on the barge.

The decision to end the contract was welcomed by Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland, who stated:

Since the Bibby Stockholm arrived a year ago, we have worked hard to support the residents of the barge and also tried to mitigate the impact on local communities. Dorset Council has been opposed to the barge being sited at Portland Port from the very beginning as this was never a suitable location for this facility. We will work closely with the Home Office and other partners to ensure the smooth running of arrangements over the final few months.

The government’s efforts to reform the UK’s asylum system have involved planning to scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme and instead create a 1,000-strong ‘returns and enforcement unit‘ to swiftly remove failed asylum seekers back to their home country.