Beaches in Kupang Exposed to Oil Spill

KUPANG - The coastal areas in three villages in Semau District, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), are reported to have been exposed to oil pollution in the form of oil allegedly from the handling of the dead ship that sank by PT Nusalindo in Kupang.

Camat Semau Morifali Y.E Mesakh in his report letter to the Kupang Marine Management Office (BPK), said the three villages include Hansisi Village, Huilelot Village, and Uiasa Village.

"Oil is also reported to continue to move towards the coastal areas of Letbaun Village and Batuinan Village," he said as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, August 1.

In his letter, the Semau Sub-district Head asked the Kupang Marine Management Office to immediately review and study the impact of the oil spill on the Semau coast which is suspected of damaging the local community's seaweed cultivation area.

The request was submitted through a report dated July 31, 2026 following an oil spill allegedly originating from the location of the work to remove the MV Kuala Mas ship in Bolok waters.

Based on the interim report of PT Nusalindo, the incident occurred on July 29, 2026 at around 12.05 WITA during the lifting of the ship's carcass.

After the incident, the company temporarily stopped ship lifting activities and carried out emergency handling by installing an oil boom, using oil absorbent materials, spraying oil dispersant, and cleaning the site.

The results of the underwater inspection on July 30, 2026 found an oil leak in the bottom of Cargo Hold Number 3 which was suspected to be the source of the oil.

On July 30, 2026, PT Nusalindo together with the community carried out cleaning around Hansisi Wharf and Kalnaok Beach around the Laazar People's Port, Hansisi Village.

The screening and cleaning activities continued on July 31, 2026 at a number of beach points in Huilelot Village and Uiasa Village, and continued on Saturday (1/8).

In addition to polluting the coastal area, the oil spill is suspected to have an impact on the seaweed cultivation business owned by the community in Huilelot Village.

The affected cultivation area is along the coast of Tahasa Beach, Katabak to Batuhopon with a length of about six kilometers.

According to Morifali, until now the area of cultivated land that has suffered damage is still in the process of data collection. Meanwhile, the company has not responded to the handling of losses suffered by seaweed farmers.

The head of the Kupang Marine Management Office, Imam Fauzi, when contacted in Kupang, Saturday, said his party had coordinated with the NTT Environment Service regarding the issue.

"For now, the marine pollution is suspected to be due to the removal of the ship's carcass," he said.

Imam added that he still did not know for sure the spread of the pollutant, but since Friday (31/7) yesterday from PT TOM also had the same concerns because it could be affected.