On the morning of 17 December, following coordination between the staffs in Task Force 508 and 465, EUNAVFOR Flagship SPS PATIÑO provided fuel to the Danish frigate ABSALON operating as part of the NATO counter-piracy task force. The huge expanse of the Indian ocean, where a number of different Task Forces are carrying out counter-piracy actions off the Somali coast, means that coordination of operations and mutual logistic support is essential.
The refueling was carried out while SPS PATIÑO was executing the escort of three WFP vessels towards Somalia, with the helicopter of the ABSALON overhead to provide surveillance support. Following the replenishment, the SPS PATINO handed over responsibility of one merchant ship to AMISOM forces in the vicinity of Mogadishu and picked-up another WFP chartered vessel to continue the convoy en-route to their destination in the north of Somalia.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, December 21, 2011; Image: eunavfor