Bye bye Bibby Stockholm - departure welcomed in Dorset

As news emerged on Thursday that tugboats were taking the Bibby Stockholm out of UK waters, the tagline "Bye bye Bibby" started popping up on social media - but how do people in the Dorset town where it was moored feel about its departure?

The controversial vessel, which was used to house hundreds of asylum seekers while their applications were processed, left Portland after the last men on board were taken off in November.

Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland, who described the barge as being "imposed" on the area, told the BBC he had not been informed it left when it did.

"I don't think anybody in the Weymouth and Portland area wanted it here," he added.

The Bibby Stockholm first arrived in Dorset in July 2023. Its departure means the contract between the Home Office and Portland Port has expired and the barge is being returned to its owners, Bibby Marine.

It is not clear where it will go next or what it will be used for.

It housed just under 500 men and during its time on the south coast sparked multiple protests and campaigns.

Mr Ireland said he hoped funding from the Home Office to support the local community during the barge's stay could be retained.

He said: "We had a great response from the people of Portland and the surrounding areas, a load of community groups set up to provide activities, resources and support the residents on the barge.

"It was great to see the humanity and compassion that our local population have, so it would be great if we can keep some of that money and invest it in the local community.... that's one of the things on my list to find out."

Mr Ireland admitted the Bibby Stockholm exposed "divisions" among locals, but also "attracted some undesirables to the local area".

"A lot of the issues we had were actually generated by people who came to agitate, but I think we can look back on it positively," he said.

"We didn't have a riot in Weymouth, it didn't kick off to that extent.

"Some people got arrested, police got assaulted which is unacceptable, and it's regrettable that happened, but in the end it was imposed on us and we've dealt with it as best we can, and I think we did pretty well to be honest."

Geoff Moore, a photographer based in Portland, captured images of the barge's departure.

"People are really pleased that it's actually gone," he said.

"It's been a negative for Portland and the area around here."

The cameraman said it was "interesting" to watch the vessel depart.

"There was no great jubilation in the streets because people didn't know it was actually happening," he said.

BBC reporter Sophie Cridland said she could "sense some relief" from residents on Friday morning.

She said the people she had spoken to were "glad to see the back of the barge and the trouble it's caused".

She added: "Also checking social media I can see people are sharing posts with the phrase 'Bye bye Bibby' with a picture of the barge leaving the waters of Portland, which I would say is the end of the final chapter of the Bibby Stockholm's journey here."

But Patricia Roseanne Wilson said she would miss some of the barge's residents "because they integrated into the island quite well".

"Certainly the cricket club will miss them," she added.

"Hopefully they'll either go on to better things or some of them will go home… unfortunately I don't think the barge created many employment opportunities locally."

And Mark Pittaway called the barge "much ado about nothing".

"We thought it was going to have a serious adverse impact and in truth it didn't really, in fact it probably did more good than harm in the end."

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