On Tuesday 6 October, Spanish warship, ESPS Meteoro, conducted a refueling at sea in the Gulf of Aden with US resupply ship, USNS Pecos, which is currently attached to the Combined Maritime Forces.

As a replenishment at sea is a complex manoeuvre, both crews benefited from excellent weather conditions. A total of 102 cubic metres were transferred to the Spanish warship, enabling her to remain at sea to conduct her patrols as part of Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s counter-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

After an hour of topping up her fuel tanks, ESPS Meteoro returned to her patrol areas.

ESPS Meteoro joined Operation Atalanta on 1st September. She will remain with the force until 15th November and contribute to the deterrence of piracy, the protection of vulnerable vessels and the monitoring of fishing activity off the coast of Somalia. The crew will also help to train local maritime forces.