Protests Held Against Russian Oil Tankers In Port Of Antwerp [Photos]
Protestors from Belgium-registered Ukraine advocacy group Promote Ukraine, alongside Rise for Climate, on 16 April conducted a sanctioned protest against Russia’s shipping and oil at the Port of Antwerp. The activists called for an oil embargo on Russia, putting an end to European port usage by Russia’s ships.
The NGO has been protesting against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It has also raised its voice for a stop to Belgian’s diamond trade, a gas and oil embargo on Russia, closed skies over Ukraine, and to boycott Russia’s fuel company dubbed Lukoil.
The protestors, comprising individuals of the Ukrainian diasporas of Belgium and volunteers, held flags and banners in front of the vessels that are moored at the harbor.
Per protest organizers, European shipping sanctions must extend to fuel tankers. Since the beginning of the war, almost 55 oil and gas tankers from Russia’s ports have docked in Zeebrugge and Antwerp, with a capacity to hold 3.5 million meters cubed of oil and gas.
That equals almost 1,400 Olympic-sized pools of oil and gas. Several activists from the environmental action group have attempted to delay and block Russia’s fuel shipments made toward the Port of Antwerp.
Over a week from 21 April, Russia’s oil tankers entered European waters. About half of the vessels are docked at the ports of Belgium, about 30 miles from the EU institutions where the sanctions against Russia have been approved.
The Port of Antwerp is one of the largest ports in Europe and also one of Belgium’s significant drivers of economic growth. Every year, over 230 million tonnes of maritime freight pass through over 11,000 hectares of port infrastructure.
Reference: brusselstimes.com
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