Ships To Haul 500 Tons Of Syrian Chemical Weapons
Source: Associated Press
LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) — Danish and Norwegian ships can safely ferry up to 500 tons of Syria's most dangerous chemical weapons out of the strife-torn country, a Danish chemical expert said Saturday.
Bjoern Schmidt said sealed containers full of chemical compounds, which when mixed can create lethal Sarin and VX gases, will be loaded at opposite ends of the two cargo ships. The exact quantity of chemicals to be taken out of Syria is unknown, Schmidt said.
Cmdr. Henrik Holck Rasmussen, of Danish frigate HDMS Esbern Snare, said two cargo ships will go to Syria as many times as needed to pick up all chemical weapons.
The Danish warship and Norwegian frigate HNOMS Helge Ingstad will act as escorts. Both are docked in Cyprus along with the Danish cargo ship Ark Futura. The second cargo ship, which Norwegian shipper Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA identified to the Associated Press as the MV Taiko, hasn't arrived yet.
Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/syrian-chemical-weapons-danish-norwegian-ships