On Friday 9 January, ESPS Rayo, successfully conducted a Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) with United States supply ship USNS Charles Drew in the Gulf of Aden.

Task Force 53, to which the US ship is attached, provides regular replenishment support to the EU Naval Force’s counter-piracy warships and other international forces in the area of the operations.

After meeting at the RAS rendezvous point, ESPS Rayo increased speed and went alongside USNS Charles Drew in order to start what is a routine, yet very impressive manoeuvre.

As soon as the replenishment was completed, ESPS Rayo resumed her counter-piracy patrols within the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).