Environmental protesters block cruise ships from Marseille port
The protest forced at least three cruise ships and a ferry to wait at sea outside the port
Marseille’s port is closer to the city centre than most French ports, making it particularly sensitive to any pollution
Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock
Environmental protesters have once again blocked cruise ships from entering the port of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) in the latest action against the pollution caused by the boats.
The associations Stop Croisières and Extinction Rébellion took to the port entrance on September 21.
A German ship, the Aidastella, was forced to turn back at around 07:00, with 2,000 passengers on board. At least three cruise ships and a ferry from Corsica also had to wait at sea before the port reopened.
The protesters remained on the water in kayaks - holding banners with protest phrases such as “It smells like gas” - before being removed by the maritime police. The port reopened at around 09:00, said the AFP.
Around 20 people were arrested.
The campaigners denounce the pollution they claim is caused by cruise ships.
Read also: Marseille residents take port to court over cruise ship pollution
Yet, local political group Une Génération pour Marseille responded: “These activists provoked an emergency manoeuvre for a ship, putting thousands of passengers’ lives at risk. This is the face of those who want to see the economic and social decline of Marseille. Our port is not a lawless zone.”
It comes after several years of protest about pollution in the city’s port, and in 2023 the Port was taken to court by local residents’ associations over pollution from cruise ships and ferries. Protesters claim that cruise ships keep their engines running in port and pollute the air, as well as the sea.
Marseille’s port is much closer to the city centre than most French ports, making it particularly sensitive to any pollution emitted by cruise liners.
Residents complain that soot from ships covers their gardens, and that standing water outside has an oily film. Health concerns that locals link to ship pollution include heart and lung problems, cancers, allergies and complications in the development of unborn babies.
They also say that the ‘scrubbers’ used to clean ship exhausts eject polluted water into the port, which is banned.
Read also: Anti-cruise ship protest in Brittany stops visitors from disembarking
Read also: Video: watch the world's biggest cruise ship arrive at Marseille
Yet, some companies - including ferry operator La Méridionale - have retrofitted some engines on their ships with new exhaust systems to neutralise acidity and filter out fine particles.
