What Crew Members Say About Mv-Cape-Ray

The Cape Ray, a vital vessel in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Ready Reserve Force, made its triumphant return to Portsmouth on September 17, following a historic mission. Deployed in December, the 650-foot ship was equipped with state-of-the-art technology designed to neutralize over 500 metric tons of sarin gas precursor and sulfur mustard. Departing Portsmouth with a dedicated crew of 35 civilian mariners, primarily from Hampton Roads, the journey initially involved a prolonged wait at port in southern Spain due to delays from the Syrian government in transferring the toxic materials. Once the hazardous chemicals were finally onboard, the Cape Ray's mission intensified, with a team of specialized chemical engineers working diligently to neutralize the substances while at sea. The operation also included the presence of international monitors and enhanced security personnel to ensure safety. After successfully neutralizing the chemicals, the Cape Ray made stops in Norway and Bremerhaven to offload the waste materials. The mission's duration necessitated crew rotations, with only a few crew members remaining throughout the entire deployment. These crew members, now preparing to dismantle and remove the specialized equipment installed aboard the ship in 2013, will allow the Cape Ray to regain its original Ready Reserve Force status over the next month. For more updates and photos, visit: http://hamptonroads.com/2014/09/portsmouthbased-cape-ray-back-syria-mission

On Friday, September 19, 2014, a significant ceremony led by Paul N. Jaenichen, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Administrator, will take place in Portsmouth, Virginia. This event is set to honor the dedicated civilian crew of the MV Cape Ray, who played a pivotal role in the international mission to eradicate Syria's chemical weapons at sea. The MV Cape Ray, managed by an all-volunteer team of U.S. Merchant Mariners, was instrumental in an international collaborative effort that included the nations of China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Following the successful completion of this critical mission, President Obama praised the operation as "a major milestone in the global effort under the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to eliminate chemical weapons from the Syrian regime." He emphasized the mission’s importance in ensuring that the Assad regime could not deploy these deadly arsenals against its citizens and delivered a powerful message about the international community's stance against the use of such inhumane weapons. The MV Cape Ray is notably a part of MARAD’s fleet of 46 Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessels, which are strategically prepared to provide swift transport of critical supplies and equipment during national and humanitarian crises.

On August 4, 2014, the cargo ship 'Cape Ray' made a significant docking at Bremen's port, carrying the last batch of neutralized Syrian chemical weapons destined for disposal in Munter. This operation involved a substantial load of 430 tons of hazardous materials. Accompanying the 'Cape Ray' during its entry was the German frigate 'Hamburg,' which also secured a berth in the port. The unloading operation initiated on the morning of September 5, executed by the BLG Logistics Group, marked a pivotal moment in the global effort to safely manage and eliminate chemical warfare agents. Interested readers can find further reports, images, and videos of this event at the following links: [Forum Schiff](http://forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=55#p106650), [Radio Bremen](http://www.radiobremen.de/politik/nachrichten/senfgas-bremer-haefen100.html), [Weser Kurier](http://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen/vermischtes2_artikel,-Kriegsgas-Schiff-ist-angekommen-_arid,934753.html), and a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLW7WJCgumA&feature=youtu.be).