On Thursday 5 November 2015, ITS Carabiniere performed a replenishment at sea (RAS) with US Navy ship, USNS Patuxent, off the coast of Somalia.
The Operation Atalanta flag ship, ITS Carabiniere approached USNS Patuxent on the starboard side to replenish fuel and stores.
RAS is a complex manoeuvre, requiring close co-ordination between both ships for both distance and speed. The RAS took two hours to complete and meant that ITS Carabiniere could continue her counter-piracy patrols with minimum disruption.
The support received by supply ships in the region allows Operation Atalanta ships to maintain their presence and maritime security.