British sailors back home after sailing ocean waves for 3 years

After three years at sea, the British Royal Navy survey ship, HMS Enterprise, returned to her home port Tuesday in Plymouth after 3 years on Navy operations.

On her travels, a journey equivalent to seven times around the world, Enterprise has helped to stop people smuggling, saved lives at sea, and protected Britain's interests.

In almost three years, Enterprise has steamed 278,000 kilometers, visited 20 countries, calling at more than 30 ports, and navigated four of the seven seas, said the Ministry of Defense (MOD) in London.

Enterprise's epic deployment began in June 2014, when she headed to the Mediterranean on a routine deployment.

At the time, growing unrest in Libya led to the British government encouraging British citizens to evacuate, and Enterprise was tasked with rescuing more than 200 people from Libya.

She then conducted survey operations in the Gulf and southern Red Sea, joining the continuous Royal Navy presence in the region which works to secure some of the most vital shipping lanes in the world and protect Britain's economy.

"The ship, and her crew of 78 sailors, returned to Devonport today for the warmest of welcomes from friends and families," said the MOD. Endit