More than 140 climate activists have been arrested during a major weekend protest that saw Newcastle Harbour blockaded by environmental groups aiming to halt coal shipments.
People-Powered Blockade Disrupts Port Operations
The environmental group Rising Tide organised what they called a 'people's blockade' over the weekend of November 29-30, 2025, with protesters entering the harbour's shipping channel in kayaks and swimming to prevent coal vessels from moving through the port.
Police confirmed 141 arrests across the two-day protest, including 130 people detained on Sunday following 11 arrests on Saturday. The coordinated action successfully disrupted several coal ship movements, though some vessels managed to navigate through the blockade.
Dramatic Scenes as Activists Scale Ships
The protest saw dramatic moments when Greenpeace activists scaled the Yangze 16 coal carrier on Sunday morning. Using non-toxic soluble paint, they emblazoned 'TIMELINE NOW!' on the ship's side in a message directed at the federal government.
Two Greenpeace representatives were arrested by specialist police after spending more than seven hours attached to the vessel. Meanwhile, the Cemtex Leader coal ship arrived on Sunday after being delayed the previous day, while the Ragnar had its Sunday arrival aborted and was expected to arrive Monday.
The Port of Newcastle confirmed that two non-coal ship movements were cancelled on Sunday due to the protests, though Rising Tide had declared it wouldn't target non-coal vessels.
Police Condemn 'Dangerous' Protest Tactics
New South Wales Police reported witnessing 'several unsafe practices' during the water-based protests. One incident involved a woman whose boat allegedly collided with a police jet ski after failing to stop when directed to leave the exclusion zone.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley strongly condemned the protesters' actions. 'This group is exhibiting a total disregard for personal safety and human life,' she stated. 'The right to protest does not override the right for others to be safe.'
A separate incident at the Rising Tide campsite saw an 18-year-old arrested after an alleged assault that left a 46-year-old man with multiple lacerations, requiring hospital treatment at Calvary Mater Hospital.
Activists Speak Out on Climate Concerns
Early childhood educator Allison Stockman explained her decision to swim into the shipping channel, telling reporters she had 'seen first hand the impacts that climate change is having around the world.'
'I see so much potential in the children that I teach, and the fact that they may not be able to realise their potential because we're destroying their future is just absolutely devastating for me,' Stockman said.
Rising Tide spokesperson Zach Schofield declared the protest a victory for people power. 'Our intention was to stop coal ships from entering or leaving the Port of Newcastle and we've succeeded in doing this today,' he stated.
Transport for NSW had established a maritime exclusion zone in Newcastle Harbour from November 28 to December 1 in anticipation of the protests, which activists repeatedly breached throughout the weekend.
