USA: MV Cape Ray Departs for Final Sea Trials

MV Cape Ray departed Portsmouth, Va., on 10 January for final sea trials in preparation for the UN mission to destroy Syrian chemical weapons.

MV Cape Ray is a Roll-on/roll of and container ship of the US Navy, which can carry 1,315 containers. She is used to transport vehicles to war zones from the US.

US Army civilians outfitted the ship with two portable hydrolysis systems, created to neutralize Syrian chemical weapons.

Destruction of the weapons will take about 90 days. Some 35 civilian mariners, about 64 chemical specialists from the US Army, a security team and representatives from the United States European Command (EUCOM) will be aboard the ship before she arrives at her destination.

[mappress]
Naval Today Staff, January 15, 2014; Image: Wikimedia