The "Ankara" was turned into a makeshift hospital and evacuated more than 250 injured people from Libya after stopping in Misrata and Benghazi.
The "Ankara" had brought 230 passengers from Misrata and was picking up another 100 from Benghazi before sailing to the Turkish port of Cesme.
The ship’s rescue mission came as Libyan rebels pushed into the strategic oil town on Apr 3, 2011. Turkey's Foreign Minister ordered the ferry into Misrata after it had spend four days waiting for permission to dock. The ship, which was also carrying medical supplies for doctors in Misrata, arrived under cover from 10 Turkish F-16 jets and two frigates. With heavily armed Turkish police special forces standing by, the injured people were taken aboard and laid on mattresses on one of the car decks, above which saline drips were hung. Some were accompanied by their relatives. The ship had to leave early after a large crowd - including hundreds of Egyptians - pressed forward on the quayside hoping to escape.