of because of stormy weather they haven't been able to set sail. imagine how relieved they will be when they finally set sail on maltese soil. they'll have missed the latest developments in tripoli, but we have been speaking to some of them over the last few weeks. they said even in the harbor they were extremely scared, which is why they got on that boat. but they did feel secure on that boat for those 36 hours they were in the harbor. what will happen to them. bear in mind, there are only about 200 americans on board that catamaran. what will happen to them when they arrive, embassy staff will be able to help them plan their travel arrangements to get from malta back home, planned hotel accommodations for the night. we don't have relatives for them to meet but they will be well looked after. >> thank you. we want to get to cnn's ben wedeman, joining us live from