Danish ship carrying Syria chemical weapons arrives in Italian port for transfer, destruction

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

Escorted by an Italian coast guard vessel and other ships, the Ark Futura pulled into port as the sun rose Wednesday and anchored near the MV Cape Ray. A helicopter buzzed overhead.

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.

The chemicals are to be loaded onto the Cape Ray later Wednesday and will be neutralized at sea.