First vertical replenishment for Chinese naval fleet

A helicopter unloads supplies onto the deck of Chinese destroyer Wuhan sailing in the Gulf of Aden, on Jan. 31, 2009. The destroyer Wuhan sent a helicopter to fetch supplies from a Chinese merchant ship Xin Fei Zhou on Saturday, which was the first vertical replenishment (VERTREP) done by the Chinese naval fleet since it began its escort mission against pirates on Jan. 6, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)

A helicopter sent by Chinese destroyer Wuhan takes supplies from Chinese merchant ship Xin Fei Zhou in the Gulf of Aden, on Jan. 31, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)

A helicopter with supplies flies towards the Chinese supply ship Weishanhu in the Gulf of Aden, on Jan. 31, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)

A helicopter with supplies flies towards the Chinese destroyer Wuhan sailing in the Gulf of Aden, on Jan. 31, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)

A helicopter unloads supplies onto the deck of Chinese destroyer Wuhan sailing in the Gulf of Aden, on Jan. 31, 2009.

The destroyer Wuhan sent a helicopter to fetch supplies from a Chinese merchant ship Xin Fei Zhou on Saturday, which was the first vertical replenishment (VERTREP) done by the Chinese naval fleet since it began its escort mission against pirates on Jan. 6, 2009.