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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Katie Williams

Huge ship where 1,000 Ukrainians lived leaves Edinburgh docks as refugees rehomed

The massive ship where over 1,000 Ukrainian refugees lived is now leaving the Edinburgh harbour.

MS Victoria has been docked in Leith for a year to accommodate the over a thousand of Ukrainians who fled their county from the Russian invasion.

Now a year to the day MS Victoria arrived in Leith, on July 11, the ship set sail and left Leith docks as it sounded the horn to say goodbye. It is now heading to Port of Tyne in South Shields.

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Edinburgh locals took to social media noting how the families on the ship became part of the community.

SOS Leith said: "Farewell to Leith, exactly a year on to the day, for passenger ferry Victoria I, now bound for the Port of Tyne. Warm wishes to all who lived and worked on her during her time with us."

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "Since the start of the illegal war against Ukraine, almost 25,000 people with a Scottish sponsor have arrived in the UK, more than 20,000 of them through the Scottish Government's super sponsor scheme.

"The MS Victoria was secured to provide an immediate place of safety to displaced people and was always intended to be a temporary measure.

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"Ahead of the contract ending on July 11, the ship has now been fully and safely disembarked, with all guests supported into onward accommodation.

"I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved in supporting the displaced people from Ukraine resident on the ship, as well as those who have helped them move into alternative accommodation."

Back in July 2022, the Scottish Government paused its super-sponsor scheme due to significant demand. More than 20,000 Ukrainians travelled to Scotland through the scheme.

The Scottish Government's contract with Forth Ports has now ended, which had meant that the refugees need to find alternative housing.

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