Our People in TAS
Damien Cripps - Hobart sailor’s key role in disaster relief
Hobart’s Able Seaman Damien Cripps is now heading to earthquake-devastated Sumatra.
Damien is part of Operation Padang Assist – the Australian Government’s response to a request by the Indonesian Government for assistance following the devastating earthquakes that hit Sumatra earlier this month.
As a Combat Systems Operator onboard HMAS Kanimbla, he will have a crucial role in the relief operation.
Damien is responsible for controlling aircraft and various small vessels that are working with the ship so he will have a crucial role in getting the tonnes of emergency stores and specialist disaster-relief teams ashore at Padang.
Working out of the ship’s Operations Room, Damien will be communicating directly with the pilot whenever any aircraft is in the vicinity of the ship.
“I expect my experience in PAC operations to be widely utilised when the ship gets to Padang as we will be operating with a number of aircraft and landing craft,” Damien said.
HMAS Kanimbla is one of the Navy’s two amphibious transport ships and regularly operates in company with helicopters and landing craft.
Damien has travelled widely during his career; his overseas deployments include visits to Malaysia, East Timor, New Zealand and Singapore but this is his first disaster-relief operation.