The tanker is seeking to export Russian oil to China. The ship has failed due to Greenpeace operations.
Activists from the environmental organization Greenpeace have blocked the transfer of oil between two Russian tankers off the port of Fredsikshavn in Denmark.
Activists settled between the smaller Seaoath tanker and the 330-meter Pertamina Prime, preventing the ships from getting close to each other for cargo reasons.
Spokesperson for Greenpeace Finland Juuso Janhusen according to the demonstration began yesterday Thursday and continued through the night. On Friday, the protest ended at the request of the Danish police.
Activists floated between ships in inflatables, kayaks and even swimming wearing floating suits. One Finnish activist was also present.
Oil from Europe to China?
The crew of the ships intended to transfer about 100,000 tons of oil cargo imported from Russia from Seaoath to Pertamina Prime, which would apparently have exported the cargo to China.
The captain of Pertamina Prim has been in contact with the head of the Danish division of Greenpeace. The ship has been told that they have no intention of forcing the transfer of cargo and thus endangering human lives, Janhunen says.
According to Greenpeace, Seaoath was originally scheduled to take the cargo to a place in Europe, but for one reason or another the plans have changed.
The company has decided to transfer the cargo to another ship on its way to China. This is normal in the oil trade, but retaliation against Russia may have had an impact.
Some ports in Europe have already indicated that they will not accept Russian vessels. In Sweden, for example, trade unions have announced that they will not unload Russian ships or cargo imported from Russia, Janhunen says.
Greenpeace wants more visibility into retaliation.
– This demonstration was initiated in response to the practice of buying Russian oil in Europe, Janhunen says.
Similar abductions have been attempted in the past, but Russian ships have managed to dodge the protesters, or their forces have not been enough to block the entire harbor.
Twitter tracking of Russian ships
During the Ukrainian war, Greenpeace has begun tracking Russian ships transporting oil or gas to other countries. Greenpeace says it has already identified 299 vessels, 132 of which have been on their way to European ports.
The organization demands that states make long-term decisions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The oil trade, which runs into billions of euros, is badly gnawing at the sanctions imposed on Russia, Janhunen reminds.
– Countries must not only strive for peace and security, but also take decisions that guarantee a stable future based on sustainable and renewable energy solutions. Renewable energy in its various forms is currently a cheaper way to produce electricity than fossil almost everywhere, Greenpeace says in a statement.
Greenpeace hopes the rapes will inspire people to oppose Russia’s oil trade, and also the use of fossil energy.
– This is one example of how the trade in fossil energy finances conflicts. […] Where the use of fossils exacerbates the climate crisis, their use has very negative effects through conflict, says Greenpeace spokesman Janhunen.