EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

The Op Atalanta German frigate FGS RHEINLAND-PFALZ made an unofficial rendezvous with the German cruise liner MS DEUTSCHLAND as she traveled through the Gulf of Aden yesterday. The cruise liner was en route from Salalah and registered with MSCHOA but needed little in the way of protection due to the size of her free board and high transit speed of over 20 knots. However, the warship’s captain and crew were keen to exchange pleasantries with some fellow countrymen so took the opportunity, while the liner was passing through the transit corridor, to conduct a close sail past to say “Hallo und Ahoi”.