Coal ship arrivals stopped after Rising Tide protesters enter Newcastle shipping channel

24 May 2026

rising-tide-hvo — Image: Lee Illfield Photography

newy.com.au – Two incoming coal ships were stopped from entering the Port of Newcastle on Sunday morning after members of climate justice group Rising Tide entered the shipping channel in kayaks and a small boat to protest the proposed Hunter Valley Operations coal mine expansion, the group said.

The protest involved kayakers and a small boat carrying a banner reading “STOP HVO” in the working shipping channel. Rising Tide said the action prevented the Marielena, which had been scheduled to arrive at 8.30am, from entering the port and forced it to turn around offshore. A second coal ship, Seacon Seattle, scheduled for arrival at 9.30am, was also cancelled.

Police attended the scene and spoke to the driver of the small boat, identified by Rising Tide as 85-year-old great-grandmother June Norman, and another boat occupant, Campbell Knox. The group said no arrests had been made and the boat left the scene.

The protest targeted the proposed expansion of the Hunter Valley Operations mine, which Rising Tide says would be the largest coal project in NSW’s history. The group says all coal from the expansion is planned for export through Newcastle.

Newcastle is a major coal export port, with Rising Tide citing figures that it exported 149 million tonnes of coal in 2025. The group has also argued against the project on economic grounds, pointing to federal Treasury projections that the value of Australia’s coal exports will fall 50 per cent by 2030, and to moves by major coal customers including Japan, Taiwan, China and South Korea to decarbonise their economies.

Rising Tide spokesperson Will Shanahan, 18, said the group wanted the NSW government to reject the HVO expansion.

“The Minns Labor government’s own Net Zero Commission has said that there can be no new coal if they are to meet their legislated emissions targets. The expansion of HVO would be the largest coal project in NSW history, at a time when climate impacts are becoming more severe, and the world is moving away from coal.

“The government does not have a plan to support workers, except continuing to prop up a dying and destructive industry. We’re calling for a 78% tax on coal export profits to properly fund a transition for the workers and communities of the Hunter to sustainable future industries.”

Ms Norman said she took part because of concerns for future generations.

“I grew up in the best years economically in Australia’s history, and I can’t sleep at night thinking about my 5 great-grandkids trying to live on a dead planet if we keep mining coal. I want to see more people my age standing up for what’s right.”