[WATCH] Updated | British warship brings 110 passengers to Malta from Libya

HMS Enterprise berths in Malta after assisting Britons in their departure from Libya (all photos by Ray Attard)

HMS Enterprise assists Britons in departure from Libya • Video by Ray Attard

Royal Navy ship HMS Enterprise has berthed in Malta with 110 persons on board, not thought to be diplomats.

Michael Aron, British ambassador to Libya, said on Twitter that of the 110 people who left Libya, 30 were children, 12 were infants, four were pregnant women and an elderly and sick person were also aboard.

The ship berthed at 7.22am. An embassy press officer said "no diplomats were onboard". No injured persons were reported to be aboard.

Speaking to journalists at the quay, High Commissioner Rob Luke confirmed no diplomats were on the ship, adding that all passengers were British nationals.

"Like the Maltese, there are a number of Britons who choose to remain in Libya. The UK is assisting its citizens who want to depart," Luke said, adding the UK will keep all options open if an evacuation is required.

He said that the British diplomatic mission in Tripoli will be relocating to Tunis and confirmed cross fire occurred close to the British compound in Tripoli.

Passengers who spoke to MaltaToday said the situation was becoming worse, with bombing and fire extending to outside Tripoli.

As a number of UK citizens remain in Libya, the UK foreign office said this was not an evacuation but an assisted departure.

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.

Two Irish citizens and one German are believed to be among them. Representatives of the British and Irish embassies in Malta awaited their arrival.

High Commissioner Rob Luke was also present for the ship's arrival.

It is understood that members of the diplomatic staff evacuated from the UK embassy in Tripoli were temporarily relocated to Tunis.

Passengers will be conveyed to the airport.