On Friday 23 October 2015, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Barbieri and the Ship's Commanding Officer CDR Francesco Saladino, welcomed the commander of Combined Task Force 151, Rear Admiral Bay, on board the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Carabiniere.

ITS Carabiniere sailed in close formation with Turkish warship, TCG Gemlik, to enable Rear Admiral Bay to be transferred to the EU flagship by helicopter.

During their meeting the commanders welcomed the close cooperation that exists between counter-piracy task forces in the fight against piracy and agreed that it remains key to maintaining a robust maritime security environment off the coast of Somalia.