The British government has begun transferring the first batch of asylum seekers to the battleship "Bibi Stockholm" anchored in the south of the country, as part of the government's plan to transfer asylum seekers to former ships and military bases.
The British government says the plan aims to reduce the bill for asylum seekers, as keeping them in hotels costs £6 million a day.
The accommodation process is set to begin with the transfer of 50 asylum seekers to the 500-seat barge.
Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick said the barge was a "safe facility" after the firefighters' union warned it was a "potential trap for death", citing concerns including overcrowding and lack of access to fire exits.
Jenrik has said asylum seekers staying in hotels are often a reason to "attract migrants across the English Channel".
Floating City
The floating barge docked in Portland-Dorset Harbor last month, consists of 3 floors, and has 222 single bedrooms with en-suite bathroom and kitchen, and while some rooms have entertainment elements such as television, there is a gym and gym.
The British government plans to place double beds in those cramped rooms to double the number of refugees living there.
A team of 60 staff will be on site for maintenance and meal preparation, 18 security guards will guard the barge and a bus will be assigned to travel to the nearby town.
The Home Office had earlier said the barge was intended to house adult males only. According to the British press, the estimated amount of space an individual can live in will be less than the space used to park a car.
The Times reported that the cost of renting the barge is £15,19 ($4500,39) a day, plus the cost of docking fees at the port is £<>,<> per day, meaning that the cost of a refugee as a daily stay is on average £<>, along with some additional daily expenses such as security services and restaurants.
Tragic history
Bibi Stockholm was used in Germany to house homeless people and migrants from 1994 to 1998, and the Netherlands began using it in 2005 to house irregular migrants.
There have been numerous fights and rapes on board the barge, and in 2008 there were two deaths of two Arabs due to poor health care.
In a 2008 Amnesty International report, the report documented the psychological trauma of those who resided.
New Laws
In the same context, the British government decided to double the fines imposed on those who provide work or rent accommodation to any irregular migrant by at least 300%, starting early next year, in an effort to limit the arrival of irregular migrants.
The Home Office said "illegal recruitment and rental are attraction" for migrants risking their lives to enter British territory.
The ministry said in a statement that civil penalties for employers would triple to 3,45 pounds ($57,<>) per worker.
Fines imposed on landlords will rise from EGP 10,<> per tenant to a maximum of EGP <>,<>, with tenants' fines also increasing.
Dozens of asylum seekers called for a demonstration on Monday evening in London to protest the government's handling of their asylum claims.
The Conservative government, which is seeing its popularity ahead of next year's general election, is seeking to stem the flow of migrants by boat across the Channel.
Indian Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to "stop" irregular migrants arriving in Britain across the English Channel on small boats, often departing from the nearby French coast.
In 2022, more than 45,13 migrants arrived on the coast of England on boats, a record. Since the beginning of this year, their number has exceeded <>,<>.
Last month, Sunak's government passed a controversial law barring migrants who arrived in the UK illegally from seeking asylum in the country, a move strongly condemned by the United Nations.