Environmental protesters block French cruise liner port

Marseille: Environmental activists blocked the cruise ship port in the southern French city of Marseille on Saturday to protest against the sea, air a...

Marseille: Environmental activists blocked the cruise ship port in the southern French city of Marseille on Saturday to protest against the sea, air and climate pollution generated by these huge vessels.

About 20 members of Extinction Rebellion and Marseille-based Stop Croisieres (Stop Cruises) made a chain of canoes in the water across the entry to France's leading port for cruise liners, an AFP correspondent reported.

The demonstration forced one ship to turn back at 7:00 am and moor further down the coast. Others had to stay in stand-by outside the port until about 9:30 am.

The port has since reopened, the maritime authorities told AFP cruise ships have docked.

"Nothing justifies the maintenance of these absurd, energy-intensive and toxic floating cities," Stop Croisieres said on its website.