In order to ensure warships can remain at sea for long periods they carry out replenishments at sea (RAS) with military supply vessels and tankers.

During her recent counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, rendezvoused with supply ship, RFA Fort Victoria.

The two-hour RAS required careful and complex co-ordination between the two ships to ensure that the fuel and stores were transferred safely.

On completion of the RAS, the commanding officers from both ships exchanged gifts, with the captain of RFA Fort Victoria bidding ESPS Galicia ship’s company ‘fair winds’ for the rest of their deployment.