Sydney – A climate change protest off the coast of Australia led to the temporary halt of an incoming coal ship at the Port of Newcastle, the country largest coal export terminal, resulting in the arrest of 11 individuals on Saturday.
The protest orchestrated by the climate activist group Rising Tide, involved individuals using kayaks and small boats to block the channel, forcing the vessel Cemtex Leader to be turned away from the port. Police described the incident as involving “alleged marine-related offences.”
Despite the disruption to the incoming ship, a spokesperson for the Port of Newcastle confirmed that overall shipping operations continued largely unaffected and on schedule.
The incident underscores the ongoing, divisive national debate over climate policy in Australia, where coal remains a major and economically vital export. Rising Tide argued that such direct actions are necessary to highlight the urgent need for fundamental change in environmental practices and policies regarding fossil fuels.