During what is the festive season for many, the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, has remained at sea conducting counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia. The Italian Navy destroyer has spent time escorting a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the East coast of Somalia to protect it from possible pirate attack.

The Italian warship departed its home port of Taranto, Italy, on 22 July 2014 to join the EU’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

As the crew was going to be a long way from home for Christmas the Executive Officer, or XO as he is known, and the logistics team organized a traditional Italian Navy Christmas day, that allowed those not on watch to enjoy some festive cheer.

Like in many homes back in Italy, for Christmas night the warship’s chefs cooked hand-made pasta with shrimps and steamed salmon.

The holy mass was celebrated by all the crew in the crowded hangar, followed by Christmas hymns.

A traditional game of bingo was also enjoyed by those not on-watch.