Environmental activists blockade Marseille port in protest at cruise ship pollution

NEWS WIRES

21 September 2024 at 5:55 am·1-min read

Environmental protesters from Extinction Rebellion and Stop Croisieres blocked Marseille's cruise ship port on Saturday, protesting against the air, sea, and climate pollution caused by large cruise vessels. The protest, which involved a canoe blockade, disrupted ship traffic for several hours, forcing one vessel to dock elsewhere and delaying others before the port reopened later in the morning.

Environmental activists blocked the cruise ship port in the southern French city of Marseille on Saturday to protest against the sea, air and climate pollution generated by these huge vessels.

About 20 members of Extinction Rebellion and Marseille-based Stop Croisieres (Stop Cruises) made a chain of canoes in the water across the entry to France's leading port for cruise liners, an AFP correspondent reported.

The demonstration forced one ship to turn back at 7:00 am and moor further down the coast. Others had to stay in stand-by outside the port until about 9:30 am.

The port has since reopened, the maritime authorities told AFP cruise ships have docked.

"Nothing justifies the maintenance of these absurd, energy-intensive and toxic floating cities," Stop Croisieres said on its website.

"Our air, our seas and our health are not up for negotiation," it said.

It criticised the noxious heavy fuel oil used by the vessels, the destruction of ocean and coastal wildlife, the ships' impact on the climate and poor working conditions for employees on board.

Stop Croisieres was set up during the Covid pandemic.

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