Operation Atalanta Tanker FGS Spessart on Refueling Duty off the Coast of Somalia
June 27, 2016 - 10:58
The EU Naval Force’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, is currently supported by two German Navy ships; one is the flagship, FGS Bayern, and the other is a tanker, FGS Spessart. The two ships recently met at sea in order for FGS Bayern to refuel and so enable her to maintain her counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin.
Refueling at Sea – or RAS – is a careful manoeuvre which requires skill and precision from both vessels. In order to pass the fuel hoses, the ships have to sail very close to each other and maintain a constant course and speed, with a distance of 36-54 metres. Any deviation from this would be highly dangerous for both the ships and their crews.
The RAS took around an hour to complete and afterwards FGS Bayern resumed her counter-piracy patrols thus ensuring that seafarers and their vessels remain safe from pirate attacks.
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