SHIPPING at the world’s largest coal port was disrupted over the weekend as climate protestors in Newcastle, Australia, entered the shipping channel.

New South Wales said 170 people had been charged for their actions over the weekend, including 14 children. In total, 138 have been charged with disruption of a major facility and 32 with failing to comply with direction by an authorised officer relating to safety.

Just after 1000 hrs, a large group of people entered the shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels, New South Wales police said. Alongside the arrests, 34 people required assistance to be retrieved from the water and 10 needed help returning to shore.

Protestors forced Marshall Islands-flagged, 84,986 dwt bulk carrier Golden Soul (IMO: 9950715) to turn around on its approach to Newcastle from Zhoushan, China on around 0900 hrs on November 23.

Golden Soul eventually arrived at Newcastle at 2330 hrs on November 23.

The Port Authority of New South Wales paused shipping movements in and out of Newcastle on Sunday November 24, after consulting with police.

“The protest activity has compromised the safety of the shipping channel and led to an unacceptable potential risk to public safety, the port and the environment,” the authority said in a statement.

Shipping resumed at the port a few hours later.

New South Wales police said it would adopt “a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels”.

Rising Tide declared the event a success despite the arrests.

“Despite attempts to shut down our peaceful protest, we showed that people power can take on the coal industry,” the group said via social media platform X.

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