A giant barge that will house 500 migrants has docked in Cornwall.
The Bibby Stockholm has arrived in Falmouth for renovations ahead of going into service next month.
It was towed from Italy and with now undergo safety checks as well as being refitted to increase the onboard capacity from just over 200 people.
The vessel will be moved into position off Dorset in the middle of June, and used for single adult male asylum seekers.
Confirming the plan last month, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said it will help trim the £6million-a-day cost of housing Channel migrants in hotels.
The Bibby Stockholm has arrived in Falmouth for renovations ahead of going into service next month
The barge was towed from Italy and with now undergo safety checks as well as being refitted to increase the onboard capacity from just over 200 people
He also claimed it would help ‘prevent the UK becoming a magnet for asylum shoppers in Europe’.
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The Bibby Stockholm barge will provide ‘basic and functional accomodation’ as well as healthcare and catering facilities when it is berthed at Portland in Dorset, according to the Home Office.
There will also be around-the-clock security on board to ‘minimise the disruption to local communities’.
However, the Government is facing stiff local opposition to to positioning the Bibby Stockholm at a popular beauty spot.
This is despite suggestions that local councils could be paid up to £3,500 per migrant to accept barges in their ports.
There has also been a backlash from charities and human rights campaigners who say the accommodation is not fitting for people fleeing war.
The vessel will be moved into position off Dorset in the middle of June
