The U. S. Maritime Administration’s cargo ship the Cape Ray is being readied to deploy to the Mediterranean where it will receive 700 tons of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, which it will then neutralize before being processed by commercial firms that deal with hazardous waste. Part of the preparation includes the installation of modular homes on the ship to accommodate three times its normal crew, as well as the two hydrolysis units that will destroy the elements for Syria’s mustard and nerve gas. MHProNews has learned from euronews.com the Ray will leave for Italy in about two weeks.

(Photo credit: Skip Dickstein/timesunion.com–modular housing being loaded onto ship)