NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) has returned to Norfolk following an eight-month deployment to Europe and Africa.

The Laramie, a U.S. Navy fleet replenishment oiler, was able to successfully execute 77 replenishment services to 50 Navy ships and 15 coalition ships during its deployment in the 6th Fleet’s area of operation.

The Laramie arrived to Norfolk’s port around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

“Laramie executed 77 underway replenishments, safely delivering more than 1.6 million gallons of fuel, 700 pallets of essential supplies, and transferring personnel to 65 U.S. and Allied ships,” said Rear Admiral Mark Haigis, deputy commander of the Military Sealift Command.

The ship also played a vital diplomatic role with 18 port visits, which included Italy, Greece and Cyprus, strengthening international relations and contributed to maritime safety. And according to Haigis, “it allows our warships to stay on station so they can stay in the Eastern [Mediterranean Sea] instead of having to go back to ports like Souda Bay (Greece) or to Rota (Spain) to refuel or rearm, they’re able to stay on station and they’re there when they’re needed.”

Operating off the of coasts of Israel and Syria in the Mediterranean Sea, the crew of 86 civil service mariners delivered fuel, essential supplies and mail to U.S. and allied ships. Anthony Cirello Deck Cadet on USNS Laramie.

“You have a ship that basically, the distance from this pier is the distance between the two ships,” said Anthony Cierllo, deck cadet on the USNS Laramie. “And you have all of these pallets going over, you have fuel lines going over, and you’re doing that sailing parallel to each other for a good couple of hours.”

After deploying back in November, the ship traveled over 14,000 miles in 247 days and Tuesday, pulled into Norfolk for some much-needed rest and relaxation.

“We’ve had some crew turnover here and there, but a lot of this crew, they’ve been here since the start of the deployment,” said USNS Laramie Capt. Arick Akerberg, “and they made the whole trip, so they’re all very excited to get home. [I’m] hoping to get people out of here shortly so they can go see their families.”

After a short break, the crew will clean their tanks at the Craney Island fuel depot then off to a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama for maintenance.