Another 14 Maltese arrived from Libya last night aboard the Virtu Ferry Maria Dolores on its second trip to rescue expatriats from the unrest in the north African country.
The catamaran, chartered by a private company, berthed at Valletta Waterfront at about 9.15 p.m., landing 178 passengers, including Malta’s ambassador to Libya George Cassar and members of his family.
The embassy, however, has not closed, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said earlier, and is being manned by two officials. Aboard the vessel was also the Portuguese ambassador to Libya.
Dr Gonzi, envisaging that the situation could take a turn for the worse and formally advising anyone still in Libya to leave, earlier urged them to get the catamaran, saying it could be one of the last chances out of the country.
He said a number had changed their mind, following his appeal yesterday morning for no one to take any risks, and had boarded the vessel.
Virtu Ferries managing director Henri Saliba said either both or one of its catamarans was heading back to Tripoli last night. They are ferrying Maltese nationals for free.
The San Ġwann, sent by Virtu Ferries, also arrived at Grand Harbour last night, carrying 305 passengers, though none were Maltese. The two catamarans were due to leave Tripoli on Saturday afternoon, but stayed alongside for another day due to rough seas.
Among the passengers of Maria Dolores was Jimmy Cardona, 48, who lives in Libya and comes to Malta about twice a year as his family visits him regularly in the village where he lives, just outside Tripoli.
“I did not see violence or hear gunshots except on TV... Where I was there wasn’t as much pressure as you see in the media. I decided to come back to Malta for safety reasons on the advice of the Maltese government,” he said, adding that he found great cooperation from the Maltese embassy in Libya.
Stefan Hogan, 42, who works in the food and beverage industry, has been in Libya since January and was based in central Tripoli.
Surrounded by his family, who were clearly eager to take him home, he too said he did not see the violence depicted in the media, although he did hear gunshots.
“The first two nights (of the protests) were the worst. After that, I moved to the Corinthia hotel in the centre, away from the action, so it felt a lot safer,” he said.
Earlier a woman, who preferred not to be named, waited nervously for her husband who works on an oil rig in the desert and whom she last saw over a month ago.
It took her husband 13 hours to travel to Tripoli by coach, where he was stuck for two days before he could come back to Malta.
“I don’t wish this on anyone... having to wait around to hear from your husband... The other day, it took me four hours to get through to him by phone... I’m a nervous wreck,” she said as she raised her shivering hand as proof.
“I just want to see him,” she said minutes before hugging her husband whom she has been married to for 13 years.