The American MV Cape Ray arrived in Italy's Gioia Tauro port Tuesday to aid in the destruction of at least 1,300 tons of chemical weapons from Syria, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S. cargo ship is set to neutralize some of Syria's most toxic chemicals including mustard gas and chemicals used to make sarin nerve gas.
The Danish ship Ark Futura is expected to arrive in the southern Italian port later Tuesday or early Wednesday to help in the destruction as well, according to Tuesday's report.
Destroying chemical weapons at sea is unprecedented, but Washington says that the "process is a proven, safe way to neutralize toxic chemicals."
The destruction of the weapons represents the first time that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has overseen weapon destruction during wartime, according to AP.
