Navy ship lends a hand

(CNS): Crew from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Wave Ruler, which has come to the assistance of Cayman Brac following Hurricane Paloma, have been assisting in getting the Gerrard-Smith International Airport back into full operation so that help can get to the island quicker. The ship had also brought essential supplies, which had been taken up to the Aston Rutty Civic Centre for distribution.

The four crewmen  – First Officer Engineer Paul Davis, Petty Officer John Swift, First Officer Systems Engineer John Evans, and Cadet Luke Gibson, a trainee engineer – worked at the airport Monday fixing the fuel farm so that jets could refuel on the Brac.

Davis told CNS that on Sunday, crew members had helped repair the Civil Aviation radio communication tower and had made the electrical systems in the airport terminal safe. On Sunday, with the help of Reef Divers vessels, the crew had brought to shore at the south side dock 400 tarpaulin, 2,500 litres of water and basic rations of food. More had arrived Monday, said Davis.

The main aim of the crew was to help with immediate first aid to the electrical and water systems and essential services such as the airport, hospital and government buildings to help the island to recover quicker.

The ship recieves orders directly from the Foriegn Office and  the Cayman Islands Governor, H.E. Stuart Jack, spoke regularly to the ship’s captain Nigel Budd, said Davis.

RFA Wave Ruler came to the Cayman Islands with the Royal Navy warship, HMS Iron Duke to assist in the wake of Hurricane Gustav in September.