SYDNEY, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A climate change protest off the coast of Australia's New South Wales State disrupted operations at the country's biggest coal export port on Saturday, the port operator said.
The Port of Newcastle, some 170 km (105 miles) from the state capital Sydney, is the largest bulk shipping port on Australia's east coast and the nation's largest terminal for coal exports, according to the New South Wales government.
Rising Tide spokesperson Zack Schofield said no coal shipments had entered or exited the port since 10 a.m. Saturday.
State police said no arrests had been made in relation to the protest under way near the port on Saturday.
Climate change is a divisive issue in Australia, the world's second-biggest exporter of thermal coal behind Indonesia, and the top exporter of coking coal, used to make steel.
Persons:
Zack Schofield, Sam McKeith, Jacqueline Wong
Organizations:
SYDNEY, Australia's New South Wales State, New South, Tide, State, Labor, Thomson
Locations:
Australia's New South Wales, Port, Newcastle, Sydney, Australia's, New South Wales, Australia, Indonesia