Asylum seekers have finally stepped foot on Britain’s first migrant barge, in a first major breakthrough of ministers’ attempts to reduce reliance on costly hotels.

The first coach-load of men aged 18 to 65 arrived on the Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset, flanked by police and security guards, on Monday lunchtime, with more expected later in the day.

The vessel will hold up to 500 men awaiting an asylum decision, as part of the Government’s attempts to stop taxpayers paying £6 million a day to house 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels.

Migrants are being transferred from hotels to the barge and held two or three to a room in bunk beds with en suite shower and toilet facilities, free hiking, cycling, cricket and festival excursions as well as on-board sports, a gym, movie room and a 24-hour food service.

Two groups of protesters have gathered outside the site, one a campaign called “no to the barge”, and another from Stand Up To Racism who are handing out “welcome packs” to the arrivals, such as toiletries, pens and a map of the area.

The first 50 migrants who were due to arrive on Monday will be housed there for up to nine months with security guards on duty 24/7, airport-style baggage screening, metal detector and ID swipe cards when they enter or leave via a gangway to a single main entrance.

The floating three-storey, 93-metre long block was docked off the Dorset coast three weeks ago but health and safety concerns, especially around fire risks, delayed the arrival of its occupants.