Bibby Progress, a barge once considered by the Government to house asylum seekers on the Thames made an unexpected arrival in the bay on Monday after the tug towing the vessel developed engine problems.

The floating accommodation unit Bibby Progress, known in the trade as a "Coastel", anchored after the Danish tug Stevns Ocean diverted to Falmouth for minor engine repairs.

Bibby Progress was built in 1976 as the oil rig supply barge Viking Barge 1. Converted at Gdansk for her present role she is designated as an air conditioned floating hotel. She has a 155 room capacity for 310 persons but capable of accommodating 620 persons by adding an extra bed. The 12,600 ton barge is equipped with a restaurant, bars, lounge, conference facilities, two lifts, and two laundries.

The Coastel is very popular with many armed forces. In 1995 she was used by the French Foreign Legion at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific during the French nuclear disarmament programme. The US Navy have used the barge three times before and she is now enroute to Malta where the US Navy will use her again during the drydocking of an Amphibious Assault ship.

The tug Stevns Ocean is on her maiden towing trip having only entered service a month ago. The Canadian built tug has bollard pull of 65 tons.