In the early morning of Tuesday 19 November, EU Naval Force warship ITS Libeccio carried out a replenishment at sea (RAS) with the American auxiliary ship, USNS Arctic.
The RAS, which was conducted in coordination with the US Fast Combat Support Ship, required the two ships to sail very close together so that the fuel lines could be passed, so a lot of preparation and vigilance was required by both crews prior to, and during the RAS.
At the end of the RAS, ITS Libeccio returned to her counter piracy patrols in the pirate high risk area off the Somali coast.
[mappress] Press Release, November 22, 2013; Image: EU NAVFOR