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

A diving operator from Bluewater Travel has accused Silversea’s expedition ship, Silver Cloud, of damaging coral reefs near Alor, Indonesia. The operator claimed in a Facebook post that thirteen Zodiacs dispatched from the ship used anchors instead of mooring lines, leading to potential harm to the reef. The situation has caught the attention of ExpeditionCruising.com, which questions the validity of these claims.

A video surfaced allegedly showing a dive guide retrieving an anchor from the coral, escalating tensions that date back to previous incidents, such as the 2017 grounding of the Caledonian Sky. Local dive operators have expressed concerns over large-scale cruise activities in the region.

Silversea has stated that it has acquired all necessary permits for its Alor operations, a fact confirmed by ExpeditionCruising.com, which contradicts suggestions of any regulatory breaches. Currently, Silver Cloud is following a route from Darwin to Bali, with scheduled stops at Komodo, Bau Bau, Kupang, and Palopo. Independent divers reported seeing an anchor tangled in coral and noted a total of 39 anchors were used during the operation, raising alarms about the potential ecological impact.

Presently, Silversea has not released an official statement, and investigations into environmental concerns and on-board practices at Silver Cloud’s Alor port of call continue. This incident highlights the ongoing conflicts between cruise lines and conservation efforts, emphasizing the critical need for reef protection in sensitive areas.

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