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

A diving operator affiliated with Bluewater Travel has accused the expedition cruise ship Silver Cloud, operated by Silversea, of causing damage to coral reefs near Alor, Indonesia. According to a Facebook post from the operator, thirteen Zodiacs from the ship reportedly dropped three anchors each onto the reef instead of using designated mooring lines. This claim is now being examined by ExpeditionCruising.com, which has raised doubts about the possibility of such an occurrence. A video circulating shows a dive guide removing an anchor stuck in coral, which led to a contentious exchange with a crew member.

These allegations have rekindled concerns over previous incidents in the region, particularly the 2017 grounding of Caledonian Sky, which left local dive operators uneasy about large cruise operations. Silversea has stated that it has acquired all required permits for its activities in Alor, a claim confirmed by ExpeditionCruising.com, thus rejecting any implications of regulatory violations.

Currently, the Silver Cloud is following a route from Darwin to Bali, with planned stops at Komodo, Bau Bau, Kupang, and Palopo. Independent divers reported seeing one anchor entangled in coral, which was removed, part of what was described as a total of 39 anchors deployed during the operation—an account consistent with local dive guides who suggest significant impact.

As of now, Silversea has not released an official response to these allegations, and investigations into the environmental concerns and operational procedures aboard the Silver Cloud during its Alor visit are ongoing. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between expedition cruise lines and regional conservation groups, emphasizing the critical nature of reef protection for local communities. No independent assessments have verified the extent of the reef damage or whether the permits address the methods of anchor deployment.

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