Ports Reject Request to Land 120 Migrants in RNLI Boats

Requests from the coastguard to allow RNLI vessels carrying 120 migrants to land at both Portsmouth and Southampton ports were declined, according to BBC reporting. The King’s Harbour Master Portsmouth refused the request, while Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates Southampton, stated it lacked suitable reception facilities and was not the nearest port.

The migrants were eventually landed on Sunday at Eastney in Langstone Harbour. However, the arrival triggered significant civil disorder, with anti-migrant protesters blocking the single road access point and preventing coaches from departing. The standoff continued into the early hours of Monday.

Langstone Harbour Master Billy Johnson described the location as a search-and-rescue operation where there was “no reason not to accept” the landing. He noted that the RNLI vessels had traveled at slow speeds due to being severely overloaded. Johnson highlighted that while emergency services, including police, Border Force, and the fire service, coordinated effectively, their operations were hindered by the protesters.

Portsmouth City Council criticized the decision to use Eastney, labeling it a “completely unsuitable location” that caused unnecessary disruption. Council leader Steve Pitt accused the Home Office of poor planning and inconsistent decision-making.

An RNLI spokesperson expressed disappointment regarding the communication surrounding the refusal of access at Portsmouth and Southampton, emphasizing that crew members volunteer their time to save lives at sea.

In the House of Commons, Conservative MP Dame Caroline Dinenage referred to the vessel as an “extraordinary mega dinghy” and criticized the government for a lack of reliable information during the incident. Home Office minister Sarah Jones responded by stating the department would review the events to understand why Eastney was chosen and would learn any necessary lessons.