Earlier this month USNS Kanawha replenished ESPS Galicia of EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta at sea (RAS).
Having sailed into the counter-piracy sea areas in the Gulf of Aden, the flag ship of Operation Atalanta, ESPS Galicia went alongside USNS Kanawha to replenish fuel and stores in preparation for her continued deployment with the EU Naval Force off the coast of Somalia.
The RAS requires careful navigation and complex co-ordination between the ships to ensure that the fuel and stores are transferred safely. This is the 4th time that these two ships have completed this evolution and it shows the benefits of the mutual cooperation between respective navies in this busy stretch of Maritime waters.
Conducting a RAS at sea enables Operation Atalanta warships to maintain their permanent presence in counter-piracy operations and strengthen maritime security in the Horn of Africa region. It is vitally important to protect the regions international trade interests.