The commanding officer on board the 100 bed medical ship, which sets sail for the West African country from the port on Friday, has said no Ebola patients will be brought on board and any departing personnel will be closely screened upon their return for signs of the disease.

Captain David Eagles, RFA, said he was “working hard to allay any fears that they should have.”

As the ship was loaded with humanitarian and medical supplies on Tuesday morning, the crew was given a briefing on disease prevention, and on how to identify the symptoms of the disease.

Glenn Fortune, an able rate from Falmouth who will be serving on board the Argus, said: “I’m a little bit anxious about it, considering where we are going.

“But we’ve had all the relevant briefings and they’ve put all the necessary precautions in place.”

He has recently married, and said his wife and family are “a little bit nervous and anxious, but they know it’s part and parcel of the job.

“They know I’ve had all the relevant training, regarding my job, and the relevant briefings regarding Ebola and how it’s transferred.”

He added: “If we can help stop the spread, with commitment we can hopefully help as many people as we can. It’s what we want to do, to help and provide support.”

The Argus will carry around 350 personnel to Sierra Leone during a seven day journey, although chief officer Shane Wood said it would take longer if they stopped at Gibraltar to collect vehicles for the aid effort.

Once there, the 140 strong ship’s crew and 80 medical crew will remain on board, while 80 members of 820 Squadron from RNAS Culdrose will use three Merlin helicopters to transport goods and people, 30 members of the Royal Marines 539 assault squadron will carry out support by boat, and 50 marines from 42 Commando will be on hand to provide protection.

Helicopter crews from Culdrose will be removing equipment from their Merlins during the trip, so that the aircraft can be switched from their usual anti-submarine role to ferry equipment and people hundreds of miles to inaccessible parts of the country.

Commander Ben Franklin, of Falmouth, who is in charge of the force, said: “820 are a maritime squadron, so we are used to ships. Our Merlins have been on Argus many times in the past, we see it as home.”

When asked about the risks associated with the trip, he said “you’ve got to be apprehensive.

“We’re getting a lot more medical advice now, especially about Ebola.

“But it’s just one of a number of diseases and risks we face.”

He said he had no intention of transporting any Ebola victims in the helicopters.

“If somebody looks like they are a risk, we’re empowered to prevent them from entering the aircraft.”

He also recognised that the families left behind would also be “apprehensive” about the fate of their loved ones, and said there would be a families briefing, and every opportunity was being taken to reassure them and to allow the crews to stay in touch.

He said: “It’s just as important as the boys and girls on the Argus.”

The voyage is intended to support the Department for International Development (DfID) humanitarian mission, which is providing training and infrastructure to help the Sierra Leonean government combat the spread of the virus.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited the ship during its preparations on Tuesday afternoon, as the government has pledged supplies, including 700 beds to help the Sierra Leone government.

The Argus will mainly be working to support workers on the ground at Kerry Town, where the army’s 22 Field Hospital has set up a treatment facility.

Captain Eagles said there would be no treatment of anyone with Ebola on the ship, where medical facilities would be used for the treatment of disease and non-combat injuries, providing members of the UK forces with medical care similar to that they would receive from the NHS when at home: ranging from snake bites to broken legs to somebody falling from a truck.

He added that if anyone on board was diagnosed with the disease they would be transferred ashore to the treatment centre, and added: “I’m confident the mission can be accomplished safely.”