Two catamarans chartered by the US State Department are expected to try to evacuate American citizens from Tripoli this morning.
American aircraft have been refused permission to land in Libya and the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs is now calling on U. citizens wishing to leave Libya to go to As-shahab Port as soon as possible after 9 a.m. and no later than 10 a.m.
"US government chartered ferries will depart for Valletta, Malta no later than 3 p.m. on Wednesday," the bureau said via Twitter.
Earlier, a senior administration official told CNN that the State Department was chartering ferries to take Americans from Tripoli's As-shahab harbour to Valletta.
"The question will be if they let the ferry dock. If that happens, our people will flow out," the official said, adding that the reason that charter aircraft didn't land was because the Libyan authorities did not give them permission to do so.
Of the several thousand U.S. citizens in Libya, most are dual nationals; those solely with U.S. citizenship number about 600, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said.
The State Department said boarding the vessels would be on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to those with medical emergencies or severe medical conditions.
Travellers would be allowed one suitcase and one small carry-on item. Pets would be allowed on the ferry but they must meet European Union requirements.
Those who want be evacuated should be prepared to wait several hours and take food, water and other necessities to the pier, which is on the sea road across from the Radisson Blu Mahari Hotel in Tripoli.
Those who take the ferry will be expected to reimburse the government for the cost, estimated to be equivalent to the one-way commercial ferry crossing of the distance from Tripoli to Valletta, it said.
Any onward travel from Malta must be paid for by the passengers.
Immediate family members of US citizens who are not themselves citizens will be able to board provided they have travel documents valid for their final destination.
MORE PLANES ARRIVE IN MALTA FOR EVACUATION FLIGHTS
Meanwhile, German military transport aircraft last night performed the first evacuation flights from Tripoli to Malta.
Another flight was also performed by an Austrian air force Hercules, which has been in Malta for some days. Irish aircraft have arrived for the same purpose and a British Royal Air Force Hercules is expected in Malta later today.