THE Royal Navy warship HMS York will set sail to Libya from Portsmouth today where she will enforce United Nations security resolutions.

The Type-42 destroyer will take over the role from sister ship HMS Liverpool, which has been operating in the region for six months HMS York will work with other NATO nations off the Libyan coast and stand by to conduct operations in the Mediterranean.

The ship previously conducted operations off Libya for two weeks in March, delivering humanitarian aid to Benghazi and evacuating 43 people to safety in Malta. She then went on to conduct security patrols in the South Atlantic, returning to the UK in July.

Commanding Officer Commander Rex Cox said: “I am immensely proud of my ship’s company who have achieved a remarkable effort in preparing the ship for operations in very short order.

“We deploy to the Mediterranean focused on the mission ahead and supported as always by our families and friends who remain firmly in our thoughts.”