The ship ‘Bibby Stockholm’, which now hosts hundreds of irregular migrants on England’s south coast and was officially inaugurated this week, has been temporarily evacuated because traces of legionella were found in its water system. The bacteria, which can cause respiratory illness, was detected during routine tests prior to transfer of asylum seekers, who started arriving last week. Although none of the 39 displaced migrants showed symptoms of contagion, the evacuation drew criticism from the Government for rushing them to relocate them before knowing the results of the facility’s health review.

The start of a UK pilot project to set up a floating hub and deal with a surge in arrivals across the English Channel has faced delays due to fears of a possible disease outbreak. Health authorities in the Dorset area, where the ship is located, have warned of the risk of an outbreak for migrants and staff in the building, previously used to house oil and gas workers. .

The Home Office has defended the ship’s evacuation, arguing that it went beyond guidelines set by the UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA). UKHSA has recommended further testing of the water supply and additional studies have been conducted by the Dorset County Department of Environmental Health.

The government has clarified that the traces of legionella detected are limited to the ship’s systems and do not pose an immediate risk to the surrounding area. However, the controversy surrounding the relocation of migrants has given rise to increased criticism of the treatment that the Rishi Sunak government provides to migrants.

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Bibby Stockholm was part of the plan’Stop the Boat’ which is part of Sunak’s priorities for his mandate and working to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel in an irregular manner. Despite legal hurdles and public debate, half of Britons consider it acceptable to accept migrants on board while their asylum claims are being processed.

The pilot project aims to accommodate half a thousand men between the ages of 18 and 65, more than double the capacity of Bibby Stockholm. The relocation faces legal and logistical challenges, and evacuated migrants will not return to ships until the water supply is completely secure.

The legionella findings have reinforced the concerns of opponents of the project, who had warned from the start about the health risks. Legionella, a bacterium that can cause pneumonia and death, poses a serious hazard when it reaches the lungs through contaminated water. @mundiario

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