From BZ/dpa
Climate stickers blocked the departure of the cruise ship “Aida Diva” in Rostock-Warnemünde for about two hours at the weekend.
With canoes and small boats, the demonstrators prevented the punctual departure late on Saturday afternoon. The police cleared the blockade with boats, among other things.
According to the police, the stickers had attached or rolled out posters with inscriptions against cruise tourism in their boats, on land and on the cruise ship. The “Aida Diva” was also smeared with paint.
The group, which calls itself “Smash Cruiseshit”, criticized the climate damage caused by cruises in a statement. Technical efforts by companies did not change that. Cruise lines should be held responsible for ecological damage.
“It is absurd that more than 350 cruise ships worldwide offer a privileged minority highly climate-damaging luxury holidays.” At the same time, people elsewhere have to flee due to the consequences of the climate crisis, among other things, the group criticized. “Each year hundreds of people drown trying to reach a safe place to live.”
In 2019, the “Smash Cruiseshit” group had already delayed the departure of a cruise ship by several hours with a similar campaign in Kiel. There was also a campaign like this in Kiel last year.
On canoes and inflatable boats, the chaotic wanted to prevent the cruise ship “Aida Diva” from leaving the port Photo: dpa picture radio
A spokeswoman for Aida Cruises, on the other hand, referred to the company’s environmental efforts. “By 2050 we are aiming for climate-neutral ship operations.” Compared to other areas of shipping, we are already very far. She referred to the use of shore power systems and alternative energies such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or the development of battery and fuel cell technologies.
Police: Action very surprising
Aida Cruises informed the German Press Agency that the delay could be easily made up for. The ship had set off on a five-day cruise towards Sweden.
A police spokesman said the action came as a surprise, also in terms of the number of people involved. In principle, however, one should be prepared for something like this. 15 climate stickers were found. They were taken to the federal police for identification because they did not want to identify themselves. “First of all, we have initiated an investigation into the violation of the Assembly Act.”
A spokeswoman for the group spoke of a sometimes aggressive mood. The protesters were attacked by passers-by. On Twitter, the climate stickers also criticized the evacuation on the water. The forces rammed the boats, they wrote and posted a video.
Rostock-Warnemünde is an important cruise port. For the current year, more than 130 ship calls were expected at the start of the season. The cruise line Aida Cruises is also based in Rostock.