November 14 2008: Dumai, Sumatra, Indonesia - Greenpeace Esperanza Expedition (sitios de interés)

Ship-to-ship blockade becomes a tug of war

There’s one part of the quayside here in Dumai dedicated to piping palm oil into the bellies of the tankers. When a berth became free, the Esperanza moved in to occupy the space and so prevent a giant tanker, the Isola Corallo, from docking and collecting its cargo of crude palm oil.

The port authorities maneuvered various tugs and barges and, if the blockade was to continue, the Esperanza was forced to attempt a move along the dock. Two tugs were waiting to push the ship and prevent it returning to the dock, and as the Corallo steamed in towards the berth, it became a nail-biting skill and ship-steering.

Eventually, the tugs won out and the Esperanza was unable to continue the blockade but teams headed back to the Corallo to paint 'Forest Crime' and 'Climate Crime' slogans along its hull.

The Esperanza attempts to slip past a tug as the Isola Corallo comes in to dock © Greenpeace/Rante
© Greenpeace/Novis

© 2008 Greenpeace