In a premature media release, Greenpeace said its activists shut down the export coal terminal to demand Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to stop risking the future of the Pacific Islands by “undermining real action on climate change and expanding Australia’s coal industry”

Protesters aboard the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza intended to close the port operated by Xstrata Coal to coincide with the Pacific Islands Forum this week.

But Xstrata spokesperson James Rickards told ILN yesterday afternoon the vessel and the protesters had not been able to access the actual port site and were in the construction area.

“They haven’t got anywhere near the conveyors or the cranes or the actual infrastructure as such,” he said.

He said two protesters had been arrested by police and that Greenpeace activists were cooperating with the authorities.

“There has been no impact on the operations at all. We have continued to load trains,” Rickards said.

“There are no actual ships being loaded or trying to access the port at this time anyway.

“The next vessel probably won’t be there until late tonight, which is on time and on schedule.”

Greenpeace arranged the failed protest with a Pacific Islands theme, having a Fijian and a Papua New Guinean activist onboard who are both concerned climate change is a risk to homes in their respective countries.