Refueling and Replenishing....

On Sunday July 11 we got to watch something that very few will have the chance to (unless of course they are on a mission of this kind).
We are out in the middle of the ocean in between the Archipelago that is Indonesia. We will not anchor at any port during our time in these islands. But we still need replenishing. The best way for the Mercy to do this is to receive fuel and replenishment from another ship.
Basically we watched as the Robert E Byrd (or maybe it was the Richard E Byrd), another US naval ship pulled up besides us on the open ocean. Both ships were at full speed steaming parallel to each other. A line was thrown across from the Byrd to the Mercy and refueling began.
At the same time, the Mercy helicopter picked up supplies( read food!) for us from the Byrd and dropped off unnecessary items (read trash!) onto the Byrd.
The whole operation took about 4 1/2 hrs whilst both ships maintained speed alongside each other with just about 190feet of ocean between us.
It was quite an interesting experience to be witness of and I have some video that I will post when time (and bandwidth) cooperates.
In the meantime, it is on with the mission....
Until later
blessings....