The phrase “Bye bye Bibby” began to appear on social media on Thursday when it was announced that tugboats were removing the Bibby Stockholm from UK waters. However, what are the thoughts of the residents of the Dorset town where it was moored regarding its departure?
After the final individuals on board were removed in November, the contentious ship, which housed hundreds of asylum seekers while their applications were processed, departed Portland.
Nick Ireland, the leader of the Dorset Council, told the BBC that he was not aware the barge had departed when it did, describing it as “imposed” on the area. “I don’t think anybody in the Weymouth and Portland area wanted it here,” he said.
In July 2023, the Bibby Stockholm made its maiden appearance in Dorset. With its departure, the barge is being returned to its owners, Bibby Marine, as the Home Office and Portland Port contract has ended.
What it will be used for and where it will travel next are unknown.
During its existence on the south coast, it prompted numerous campaigns and protests and housed little under 500 men.
Mr. Ireland expressed his expectation that the Home Office’s financing for the local community’s support during the barge’s stay would be kept.
“The people of Portland and the surrounding areas responded really well,” he added, adding that numerous community organizations had been established to support the barge’s occupants and offer resources and activities.
“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 acknowledged that the Bibby Stockholm “attracted some undesirables to the local area” in addition to exposing “divisions” among the local population.
“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 stated.
“There wasn’t a riot in Weymouth; it didn’t start that bad.
“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.”
Portland-based photographer Geoff Moore took pictures of the barge’s departure.
“People are really pleased that it’s actually gone,” he stated.
“It’s been a negative for Portland and the area around here.”
“Interesting” was how the videographer described the ship’s departure.
“There was no great jubilation in the streets because people didn’t know it was actually happening,” he stated.
Sophie Cridland, a BBC correspondent, claimed that on Friday morning, she could “sense some relief” among the locals.
“Glad to see the back of the barge and the trouble it’s caused” was how she described the folks she had spoken to.
She continued, “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.”
Patricia Roseanne Wilson, however, stated that she would miss some of the barge’s occupants “because they integrated into the island quite well”.
“Certainly the cricket club will miss them,” she said.
“Hopefully, some of them will return home or they’ll go on to better things. Regretfully, I don’t believe the barge generated a lot of jobs in the area.
The barge was also referred to as “much ado about nothing” by Mark Pittaway.
“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.”