A controversial floating barge set to house around 500 male asylum seekers is expected to arrive in the UK in the coming days.

Sky News can reveal the vessel known as Bibby Stockholm left Genoa Port in Italy on 19 April and is currently being towed off the north coast of Spain.

Its planned destination is Falmouth in Cornwall, according to data from ship tracking website MarineTraffic.

A government source confirmed the accommodation barge is being taken to a port on the south coast of England where it will be fitted out before being moved to Portland Port, Dorset.

It will be ready for use this summer and will be operational for at least 18 months.

Sky News’ Data and Forensics unit identified the barge in Genoa Port in April and has tracked its journey using the distinctive shape of the vessel and marine tracking data.

The Bibby Stockholm has a section of roof that is a lighter colour and in the shape of a T. This was visible on satellite images when it was in the Italian port and during its journey to the UK.

The barge was in Genoa Port in Italy for several months before it left for Britain.

Read more: Asylum seeker says he would rather be ‘homeless’ than live on barge

Satellite images by Planet Labs are taken of the port on average every one to three days.

On 15 April, the barge was clearly visible. By 21 April, it had gone. Clouds stopped it being visible on satellite images between these dates.

The Bibby Stockholm has no engine so it is being towed to the UK by an Italian-flagged tugboat.

The Home Office said the barge “will provide basic and functional accommodation, and healthcare provision, catering facilities and 24/7 security will be in place on board”.

The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

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