20110228
Xinhua

South Korea will send chartered vessels to Libya in a bid to transport construction workers seeking to escape the turmoil-hit country, Yonhap News Agency reported Monday, citing government sources. "There are thousands of construction workers, not only South Koreans but also foreign workers employed by South Korean builders, hoping to leave Libya," said an unnamed government official quoted by Yonhap. "We plan to bring them to a safety by a vessel that has a larger carrying capacity than an airplane."According to Yonhap, the official said that the government is seeking to borrow vessels from Greece given its geographical proximity to Libya.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs on Feb. 26 advised construction companies that run their businesses in Libya to urgently pull out their workers. Large builders like Daewoo Engineering & Construction and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which initially considered remaining there, have decided to evacuate nearly all of their workers.

Last week, South Korea chartered a flight to bring South Korean nationals out of Libya. It also ordered its anti-piracy naval destroyer Choi Young stationed in Somali waters to sail toward Libya in case of emergency.