Thousands of migrants travel to Britain every year on small boats, risking their lives to cross the English Channel and hoping to claim asylum when they reach dry land.
Fifteen asylum seekers between the ages of 18 and 65 were transferred onto the 222-room Bibby Stockholm on Monday, with more set to arrive in the coming days.
Plans to make the barge operational were delayed several weeks by fire safety concerns.
On Monday Downing Street said that checks were complete and the 47-year-old vessel was safe, though campaigners and some other groups disagreed.
The Fire Brigades Union, which represents rank and file firefighters, said that barges housing asylum seekers were “a potential deathtrap,” describing the policy as “cruel and reckless.”
Persons:
Bibby
Organizations:
Conservative Party, Monday Downing, Fire Brigades Union
Locations:
Britain, Bibby Stockholm