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About 500 adult male migrants will be housed in a barge on the Dorset coast "in the coming months", the government has confirmed.
The plans have been criticised by local groups, refugee charities and Conservative MP Richard Drax, who said "every action's being looked at", including a legal case.
The vessel, which is currently in Italy, will be "significantly cheaper than hotels", says the Home Office.
The government has not given a costing.
The three-storey barge called Bibby Stockholm will be located at Portland Port off the coastal town of Weymouth, and used to house single men while they wait for their asylum claims to be processed. It will operate for at least 18 months.
As well as providing basic and functional accommodation, healthcare and catering, the berthed vessel will have security on board to minimise disruption to local communities, says the Home Office.
The boat, with 222 rooms, has been refurbished since it was criticised as an "oppressive environment" when the Dutch government used it for asylum seekers.
Bobby Marine, which owns the barge and will lease it to the government, said there was a laundry and a canteen on board - and all the rooms have a window, bed, desk, storage and en-suite.
The plans have been criticised by local groups, refugee charities and Conservative MP Richard Drax, who said "every action's being looked at", including a legal case.
The vessel, which is currently in Italy, will be "significantly cheaper than hotels", says the Home Office.
The government has not given a costing.
The three-storey barge called Bibby Stockholm will be located at Portland Port off the coastal town of Weymouth, and used to house single men while they wait for their asylum claims to be processed. It will operate for at least 18 months.
As well as providing basic and functional accommodation, healthcare and catering, the berthed vessel will have security on board to minimise disruption to local communities, says the Home Office.
The boat, with 222 rooms, has been refurbished since it was criticised as an "oppressive environment" when the Dutch government used it for asylum seekers.
Bobby Marine, which owns the barge and will lease it to the government, said there was a laundry and a canteen on board - and all the rooms have a window, bed, desk, storage and en-suite.
Barge to house 500 male migrants off Dorset coast, says government
The plan - a first for the UK - is criticised for being "completely inadequate" by refugee groups.
www.bbc.com
