A climate change protest off the coast of Australia’s New South Wales State forced an inbound ship to turn back from the country’s largest terminal for coal exports on Sunday, the port operator said. New South Wales police said 138 protesters were arrested on Sunday for refusing to move from the shipping channel near the Port of Newcastle.

Australian police arrested 170 climate activists over the weekend after their floating blockade briefly disrupted activity at one of the world’s largest coal ports. The fleet of kayaks, paddle boards and inflatable boats blocked the entrance to the Port of Newcastle,

Three people were charged on Saturday with with failing to comply with the direction and police and given provisional bail, event organiser Rising Tide said. They were ordered to stay at least 5 kilometres away from the Port of Newcastle.

More than 100 climate protesters have been arrested after they allegedly disobeyed police orders while temporarily shut down a major shipping channel in Newcastle. 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.

Hundreds of protesters began to gather on Friday at the Port of Newcastle, the world's largest coal port located in southeastern Australia, with the intention of blocking it and demanding an end to the use of fossil fuels in the country.

Approximately 170 climate protestors have been arrested after an inbound ship was forced to turn back at the Port of Newcastle due to activist group Rising Tide's blockade of the world’s largest coal port.

Police have arrested a handful of climate protesters after they allegedly paddled into ship lanes and disrupted coal vessels in the Port of Newcastle.

A multi-day climate protest at Newcastle’s coal port has begun, despite the New South Wales government’s efforts to stop it.