Royal Navy ship helping to evacuate Britons from Libya to Malta

A Royal Navy survey ship is evacuating Britons from Libya to Malta amid worsening violence in the country.

People are being taken to HMS Enterprise by boat as it awaits offshore. The Foreign Office previously urged British people to leave the country immediately and is temporarily closing its embassy in the Libyan capital.

A spokesman confirmed the FCO was “currently carrying out an assisted departure” operation. He said the majority of those being evacuated were British.

Plymouth-based HMS Enterprise left the UK in June for an 18-month deployment to complete survey operations and had been on operations in the Mediterranean and British Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, confirmed the Royal Navy operation was launched following FCO advice.

“I thank the crew of HMS Enterprise for their support and professionalism in carrying out this important task,” he said.

Some 108 people registered to leave on board the ship - they are not thought to be diplomats.

Two Irish citizens and one German are believed to be among them. It is understood the Enterprise is moored just off the Libyan capital city of Tripoli and a smaller vessel has been dispatched to transport people from shore to deck.

The ship is expected to set off for Malta when everyone arrives on board. Passengers are being given supplies for the journey.

HMS Enterprise commanding officer Mark Cartan said the crew was “proud” to play its part in helping to move people to safety.

“My ship’s company have adapted to the challenge superbly, making as much space as possible and providing essential food, shelter and security for the journey,” he said.

The ship’s departure is not considered a rescue mission as there are still commercial means to leave Libya.

The country has been gripped by instability and a power struggle among rival groups since the overthrow of former leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Fighting between rival militias - one established by the outgoing parliament and one controlled by the defence ministry - has spread northwards in the capital in recent days.

More than 200 people have been killed in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi in the past two weeks.