Six arrested as migrant boat diverted from Gosport to Dover

Around 60 migrants who spent more than 33 hours at sea refusing French coastguard assistance arrived in Dover early on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after their vessel was diverted from a planned disembarkation in Gosport, Hampshire. The French coastguard reported that the small boat left the Normandy coast on Monday morning, appearing to depart near Vierville-sur-Mer, west of Bayeux, and spent more than 33 hours at sea "in precarious conditions." Officials said those on board repeatedly turned down assistance, having been "determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom." A French coastguard vessel shadowed the dinghy during the crossing. The vessel had been expected to dock at Gosport on Tuesday, September 22. Local MP Dame Caroline Dinenage said the Home Office had told her it was "increasingly likely that a small boat will need to be disembarked in the local area in the coming hours." The boat instead tracked eastward on Tuesday evening, and Dame Caroline said she was subsequently told Border Force was taking those on board "to Dover by water." In a social media post, the Conservative MP said: "This is a good result.