The Moldova flagged cargo ship, Amalthea, will depart from Lavrio, some 60km southeast of Athens, the vessel's agents said. The 92-metre freighter has a 12 man crew and will carry up to nine passengers, a representative of Piraeus based agents Alpha Shipping said.
"The ship is expected to sail this evening," he told AFP. But a member of crew later said the departure could be delayed for Saturday. "We expect to reach Gaza in four or five days without stopping," crew member Oussama Almahamid from Syria told AFP. "It all depends on the weather, there are strong winds at the moment," he added.
The Libyan organisers of the initiative had earlier said that the 25-year-old ship, owned by ACA Shipping Corporation, was called Hope. The Tripoli based Gaddafi International Charity and Development Association said the cargo ship was "loaded with about 2,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid in the form of foodstuff and medications."
The ship will also carry "a number of supporters who are keen on expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people in the plight amidst the siege imposed on Gaza," the organisation added in a faxed statement.
The charity is chaired by Saif al Islam Kadhafi, the Libyan strongman's second son.
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