During a recent counter-piracy patrol off the coast of Somalia, Operation Atalanta flagship, ESPS Galicia, conducted a ‘replenishment at sea’ (RAS) with USNS John Ericsson.

USNS John Ericsson is currently deployed with Task Force 53, that regularly provides replenishment support to European Union counter-piracy warships.

Good coordination between the two ships and hard work from the crews meant that the transfer of fuel took only two hours to complete.  The ability of warships to replenish quickly at sea enables them to stay on task and continue to provide protection to vulnerable vessels off the Somali Coast.