By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - The UK Home Office began moving asylum seekers back to a migrant barge Thursday that is moored at Portland Port in Dorset in the southwest.
It said it is beginning to return migrants to the floating barge nine weeks after they were first placed.
"The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals in the coming days and months as part of a carefully structured phased approach," it said.
Thirty-nine men were moved onto the vessel in August but were removed from the barge after Legionella bacteria was found in the water system.
A group protested the barge plan near the port gate while carrying signs that read: "Refugees welcome."
Another protest held by the members of the Just Stop Oil group in Portland tried to prevent a bus with migrants from arriving at the port by blocking the road.
"We are saddened to report that we were unable to halt transportation of refugees to the prison — the driver rammed through the block, risking killing those in front," the group wrote on X, sharing footage from the attempt.
The report of bacteria came three days after the Home Office said the first group of asylum seekers was housed on the barge after health and safety checks were completed.
Last week, asylum seekers were notified by the Home Office they would be returned to the migrant barge.
The Bibby Stockholm is one of the vessels that was announced by the government to accommodate 5,000 asylum seekers in a bid to lower the cost of hotels.
The controversial plan aims to house up to 500 men aged 18 - 65, on the floating barge, who are waiting for the results of their asylum applications.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak listed tackling small boat crossings as one of five priorities after more than 45,000 migrants arrived in England last year by crossing the English Channel.