Dispute Erupts Over Allegations of Reef Damage by Silver Cloud Near Alor Island, Indonesia

A diving operator and executive from Bluewater Travel has accused Silversea’s expedition ship, Silver Cloud, of damaging coral reefs around Alor, Indonesia. The operator alleged that thirteen Zodiacs from the ship improperly dropped anchors onto the reef instead of using designated mooring lines. This claim has prompted scrutiny from ExpeditionCruising.com, which is questioning the credibility of the practice.

Evidence presented includes a video of a dive guide retrieving an anchor that was lodged in the coral, which was followed by a confrontational exchange with a crew member. These allegations have reignited concerns from past incidents, particularly the grounding of the Caledonian Sky in 2017, making local dive operators skeptical about large cruise operations.

Silversea has stated that it possesses all necessary permits for its activities in Alor, which has been backed by ExpeditionCruising.com, countering any claims of regulatory violations. Currently, Silver Cloud is on a cruise itinerary from Darwin to Bali, making stops at various locations including Komodo, Bau Bau, and Kupang. There have also been reports from independent divers who noted an anchor getting tangled in coral and being removed manually, with claims of a total of 39 anchors being deployed overall.

As of now, Silversea has not issued a formal statement in response to these allegations, and investigations into both the environmental impact and operational methods employed on Silver Cloud during its time in Alor are underway. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between expedition cruise lines and regional conservation efforts, as local communities prioritize reef protection. Independent verification regarding the extent of any reef damage and whether proper regulatory measures were followed for anchor deployment has yet to occur.

For further details, see the ship’s CruiseMinus page.

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