"All of my personnel on board have all been shocked by the reports that are coming out ... we just want to get up there," HMAS Kanimbla commander Steve Woodall told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

"We will provide what assistance we can but our prime mission is to really be able to keep our people going so they can work from dawn till dusk and start improving the areas ashore."

The Kanimbla, due to leave from Sydney, is also carrying a crew of about 300, including engineers, medical specialists and a diving team to help remove underwater obstables from debris-choked waterways.

"The construction engineers are amazingly resourceful people, they can clear a lot of that rubble, they can fix up water systems, they can rebuild a lot of that vital infrastructure," he said.

"With the heavy equipment we've got and with the sort of people I've got on board, we can make a difference."

The Kanimbla has enough food, fuel and supplies to support its crew in Indonesia for 30 days.