Ship carrying Syria weapons arrives in Italy

The Danish cargo ship Ark Futura arrives at Gioia Tauro port, southern Italy, Wednesday, July 2, 2014. Syria's acknowledged stockpile of chemical weapons has been handed over to Western governments for destruction. About 1,300 tons of chemical weapons are currently on the Ark Futura and are expected be transferred to the U.S.-owned MV Cape Ray at Gioia Tauro. The Cape Ray has been fitted with two machines designed to neutralize the most toxic chemicals, including mustard gas and the raw materials for sarin nerve gas, that were removed from Syria as part of the international effort to destroy its chemical weapons. The most dangerous chemical weapons will be transferred from the Danish vessel Ark Futura to the Cape Ray, which will move into international waters for the destruction. Other material will be taken to toxic wastes sites in various countries for disposal. (AP Photo/Adriana Sapone) The Danish cargo ship Ark Futura arrives at Gioia Tauro port, southern Italy, Wednesday, July 2, 2014. Syria's acknowledged stockpile of chemical weapons has been handed over to Western governments for destruction. About 1,300 tons of chemical weapons are currently on the Ark Futura and are expected be transferred to the U.S.-owned MV Cape Ray at Gioia Tauro. The Cape Ray has been fitted with two machines designed to neutralize the most toxic chemicals, including mustard gas and the raw materials for sarin nerve gas, that were removed from Syria as part of the international effort to destroy its chemical weapons. The most dangerous chemical weapons will be transferred from the Danish vessel Ark Futura to the Cape Ray, which will move into international waters for the destruction. Other material will be taken to toxic wastes sites in various countries for disposal. (AP Photo/Adriana Sapone)

By Associated Press July 2, 2014 2 min read

GIOIA TAURO, Italy (AP) – A Danish ship carrying hundreds of tons of Syrian chemical weapons steamed into the southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro on Wednesday for a rendezvous with a U.S. cargo vessel that will destroy the toxic material.

Escorted by an Italian coast guard vessel and a helicopter buzzing overhead, the Ark Futura pulled into port as the sun rose and anchored near the MV Cape Ray, which has equipment on board to neutralize the chemicals.

Within an hour of arrival, a forklift truck was at work on the Ark Fortuna’s deck beginning to move the containers. Local officials estimate the transfer of chemicals might take as long as 20 hours, depending on sea conditions.

Once the chemicals are moved onto the Cape Ray, it will sail into the open sea and begin the process of neutralizing the materials.

The Ark Futura last month picked up the last batch of Syrian chemical weapons – including mustard gas and the raw materials for sarin nerve gas – that were removed as part of the international effort to destroy Syria’s chemical stockpile.