A 648-foot government cargo ship with a labyrinth of tubes and valves in its hold should sail within two weeks to destroy some of Syria's chemical weapons, officials said on Thursday. The cavernous cargo hold of the MV Cape Ray was opened for media tours by the defence department to display the two massive treatment units that will neutralise 700 tonnes of chemical weapons, including mustard gas and a form of sarin nerve gas. Called field deployable hydrolysis systems, the technology has never been tested under conditions at sea.| Why don't we park it off the coast of Karachi then... |
Kendall declined to discuss Syria's role in giving up the chemicals or aspects of the mission ahead for the Cape Ray, which is part of the US reserve fleet typically used in international and national disasters such as the Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Sandy.
Two chemical engineers who have worked on the sea-bound systems said they have added backup systems and redundancies to ensure the systems work in their new environment.
| It's being handled by ... top ... people... |
"We've got some really good folks on here," said Jordan, a New Orleans native. The navy will provide security at sea and additional security will be onboard the Cape Ray.
Jordan didn't hesitate to name his greatest concern during the voyage and its unprecedented mission: rough seas.
"Weather is the single most important factor a mariner has to consider," he said. "Far and away, weather is our single biggest obstacle on this trip."
The stout Cape Ray, called a "roro' because cargo is rolled on and off, is berthed along the Elizabeth River in the centre of Virginia's maritime industry. The city's skyline could be seen against a slate-gray sky across the river. The ship, owned by the maritime administration, will be turned over to the navy's Sealift command once it leaves Virginia.
The two chemical-eating systems are bolted in the centre of the cargo hold and covered by a thick tent of white plastic, which will remain closed during the processing of the chemicals. Carbon filters will scrub air vented from the enclosures. The system uses water and a chemical cocktail to break down the toxic weapons in a titanium reactor. The waste product, which scientists compared to drain cleaner, will be destroyed at undisclosed chemical sites.
Perhaps the most dangerous part of the disposal mission will be the transportation of the chemicals from 12 storage sites in Syria to the port of Latakia. Officials on Thursday declined to discuss those land operations, deferring to Syrian officials.
Russian trucks that will be used to transport the chemicals to Latakia are now arriving in Syria. The shipments will be monitored through GPS locators provided by the US as well as surveillance cameras provided by the Chinese.
The most highly toxic chemicals will be dealt with first. They will be transferred from the trucks onto Danish and Norwegian cargo ships, which will carry the cargo to
Ahmet Uzumcu, director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, has warned that there may be delays, including possible heavy fighting near a major highway linking Damascus and the city of Homs.
Jordan was asked if he has any problems fielding a crew because of the possible risks of the mission. No, he said, "once I got the word out to the people I know. This is a legacy trip."