Greenpeace blocked car carrier with diesel cars

On Sep 21, 2017, the "Elbe Highway" as been boarded by 25 protesters from the environmental group Greenpeace at Sheerness. The ship was bringing new Volkswagen Group petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid cars from Emden which have been the target of a protest by Greenpeace. The protesters climbed aboard the ship in an attempt to stop the unloading of the cars it was carrying and demonstrate against the much publicised VW emissions scandal. The protesters suspended themselves from the ship’s 27-meter high unloading doors, unfurled a 50 square meter banner showing a girl in an air-pollution mask and said they would remain there until Volkswagen agreed to return the cars to Germany. The "Elbe Highway" was subsequently moved away from the Port of Sheerness to anchor off Margate. Police became aware of the protest at the Thames Estuary port shortly before 9 a.m. and attended the scene where they found an additional 41 protesters had scaled the fence and entered secure areas of the port itself where large numbers of new cars are parked awaiting distribution. In a statement, Greenpeace was attempting to immobilise all the diesel cars by removing their keys. Volkswagen said, the diesel vehicles, which wer ethe subject of the protest meet strict Euro 6 emissions standards.