On Thursday 28 August EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, and Combined Maritime Force frigate, HMAS Toowoomba, met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. As both warships were in close proximity to each other, crewmembers from both warships took the opportunity to ‘cross-deck’ to the other to meet sailors and talk about their various roles on board.
As five Australian Navy crewmembers embarked the Italian destroyer, sailors from ITS Doria went on board HMAS Toowoomba. Exchange visits such as this help to strengthen cooperation and coordination in the fight against piracy.
Once the crewmembers had returned to their own warships, the United States Navy tanker, USNS Laramie, which was operating in the area, carried out a very impressive two-ship Replenishment at Sea manoeuvre with both ITS Andrea Doria and HMAS Toowoomba.
During the Replenishment at Sea, both warships were topped up with fuel and afterwards they returned to their respective counter-piracy patrol areas.