American Ferry Rescues Evacuees From Libya
More than 300 evacuees from Libya crossed on a high-speed ferry chartered by the United States government after a two-day wait in the Tripoli harbor followed by a rough eight-hour crossing. The Maria Dolores ferry evacuated at least 167 U.S. citizens, away from the turmoil that has engulfed Libya as residents rise up over Gaddafi's iron-fisted rule. About 40 of the Americans were government officials, including staff members from the American Embassy in Tripoli, which was formally shut down.
Shortly after the arrival of the Maria Delores, the ferry chartered by the U.S. government, the San Gwann, a ferry chartered by the oil company Schlumberger arrived. Both ferries will return to Tripoli to pick up more passengers. The United States hired the ferry Maria Dolores after commercial flights from Tripoli could not keep up with demand.