Virtu ferry waiting for inclement weather to subside in Tripoli habour

A US State Department spokesman, said Thursday afternoon that the Virtu  ferry could leave “within hours” if the weather permits.

The US government chartered the seagoing ferry on Wednesday, after being turned down for permission to land a chartered plane in Tripoli. The US Embassy in Tripoli said on its Web site it was in the process of chartering a flight from Tripoli for Friday. “We do not anticipate scheduling another charter flight after the charter on Friday,” the embassy said.

The passengers are expected to remain on the 600-person ferry, until it departs and were being given food and water, There were 285 passengers on board, including 167 Americans.

The State Department has said that about 35 members of the United States Embassy staff and their family members were on the vessel.