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A two-year-old kamsarmax belonging to Safe Bulkers became the centre of an environmental protest today at the world’s largest coal exporting port. This morning in Newcastle, Australia, members of climate justice group Rising Tide painted on the Climate Justice ship the words ‘Tax Me’ to call on the federal government to introduce a 78% fossil fuel export profits tax to fund a community and industrial transition away from polluting coal. The port of Newcastle hit out at the protest, saying that the actions were dangerous. Alexa Stuart, a Rising Tide spokesperson, said: “It is laughable that a coal ship is called Climate Justice when the burning of fossil fuels is the number one driver of dangerous climate change which is already causing devastating impacts on innocent people all around the world. Rising Tide is planning a blockade of the port next month. Preparing for less business from its main client, China, the port of Newcastle is actively pursuing diversification strategies to reduce its reliance on the black fossil fuel. With coal accounting for 95% of its cargo volume and 72% of revenue, the port has set a goal to increase non-coal revenue to 50% by 2030. Central to this transformation is the development of a deepwater container terminal and a 220 ha Clean Energy Precinct on Kooragang Island. The precinct aims to support the production and export of green hydrogen and ammonia, backed by federal investment.
