South China Sea. (October 28, 2023): Anyone who has ever tried to pull their fishing boat alongside a buddy will testify to how difficult such a seemingly easy task can be. Can you imagine two giant ships, jockeying into position in harsh weather, trying to offload tons of fuel? In this photo by MC1 Greg Johnson, Royal Canadian Navy supply ship MV Asterix transfers supplies to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey while underway in the South China Sea.

In early naval history, the world’s oceans were dotted with “coaling” stations that serviced the world’s fleets with fuel, food, and water which allowed nations to project their power. These stations, however, were vulnerable to disruption or attack thus cutting off a vital lifeline to ships in time of war. The solution was to design a system to transfer highly flammable fuels and other supplies “ship to ship” while underway.

The main technical problem was ensuring a constant distance between the two ships throughout the delicate process. A combination of engineering and expert seamanship allowed the U.S. navy to employ various deliver systems, from food and fuel to documents and patients, at sea to every Navy vessel anywhere in the world.

The Canadian Navy supply ship MV Asterix is a converted container ship used by their Navy to ferry fuel and supplies and to transfer cargo to ships like the Destroyer USS Dewey. American and Canadian Navies routinely operate together to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific.