Over 100 people arrested at protest

More than 100 people have been arrested at a climate protest in Newcastle.

The demonstration, organised by activism group Rising Tide, was held at the city’s harbour this weekend.

Police say on Sunday, a large group of people entered a shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels.

According to police 138 people were arrested after refusing to comply with a direction to move away from the channel.

The group which has organised the large multi-day protest claimed the coal ship being forced back to the dock as a win, while police say they have “a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels”.

The ship involved is the bulk carrier Golden Soul. Newcastle Harbour spokespeople declined to immediately comment when contacted.

Police say about 10am Sunday a large number of people entered the shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels.

“138 people have now been arrested after refusing to comply with a direction to move away from the channel,” police say in a statement.

“The police operation is ongoing.”

Images show about 150 people paddled into the channel in kayaks. Officers in inflatable police boats and on jet skis were seen dragging protesters into the police vessel.

The police and protesters strike a sharp contrast; police in black wetsuits and balaclavas, wrangling climate protesters waving anti-coal signs, wearing bright colours and plenty have straw hats on.

Laws in NSW make it illegal to obstruct the safe passage of a vessel. Police are requesting no one else to block the shipping channel.

“Unlawful activity may result in fines or imprisonment,” police say in a statement.

“The NSW Police Force will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels.”

A spokeswoman for protest organisers Rising Tide said in a video demonstrators were jubilant about disrupting the ship.

“We have blockaded the world’s largest coal port,” said the spokeswoman, named as Alexa in the caption.

“Mood here on the beach is just amazing. Everyone is so pumped, so excited, and so hopeful.”

More to come