Greenpeace prevents a tanker transporting Russian petroleum from docking in the UK

Greenpeace protesters have halted a ship from entering a southern English port because of its Russian fuel load, sparking the UK government’s condemnation.

The protest witnessed 12 activists take a jetty at Navigator Terminals’ Thames location in Essex on Sunday night.

The Greek-flagged Andromeda oil products tanker was set to unload her cargo there, police made a number of arrests.

Russian-flagged ships are prohibited from entering British and EU ports, with several exceptions.

Because the UK has promised to phase out Russian oil imports by the end of the year, foreign flagged vessels carrying Russian cargoes can still call at ports for the time being.

“Ministers have kicked a ban on Russian oil imports to the end of the year despite strong public support for it,” said Georgia Whitaker.

“There is absolutely no excuse for Greenpeace’s disruptive acts, which are utterly unacceptable,” a British government official stated.

The officers were summoned to the Navigators Terminal late Sunday evening.

They had apprehended a total of 15 people as of 1.40 p.m., all of whom were still in custody.

Essex Police stated, “Policing is not anti-protest, but we must intervene where there is a risk to life or where there is a suspicion laws are being broken.”