A Maltese catamaran returned this morning from the Libyan port city of Sirte, with the crew reporting the situation calm, despite reports of fighting nearby.

The Maria Dolores evacuated 599 Korean workers employed by Hyundai. Another catamaran, the San Gwann, is currently in Sirte to pick up another 200.

The workers are being accommodated at the Intercontinental for two days pending their departure home.

A spokesman for Virtu Ferries said the catamarans have so far made eight round trips to Libya, mostly to Tripoli but also to Misurata.

Most of the trips were chartered.

There are no immediate plans for more trips, but the situation could change at any minute, the spokesman said.

Another 599 evacuees from Libya arrived in Malta this morning on Virtu Ferries' catamaran Maria Dolores.

British frigate HMS York and a Korean frigate are expected in Grand Harbour this afternoon with more evacuees.

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