Cutting the supply chain: Greenpeace activists chain themselves to the mooring ropes of container ship the NYK Orion and display banners in Rotterdam on Friday in protest over an alleged attempt to transport fin whale meat to Japan. AP / GREENPEACE
Sunday, April 4, 2010
AMSTERDAM (AP) A ship unloaded seven containers believed to contain meat from endangered fin whales bound for Japan on Friday after Greenpeace activists chained themselves to its mooring ropes to prevent it from leaving Rotterdam harbor.
Greenpeace spokeswoman Arja Helmig said the organization had acted after receiving a credible tip that the ship, the NYK Orion, was carrying meat shipped by whalers from Iceland to a Japanese customer.
The 15 activists unchained themselves after the contested meat was unloaded.
NYK Lines spokesman Robin de Pauw said the company was preparing a statement about the incident.
Rotterdam police spokeswoman Tine De Jonge said the NYK Orion had proper permits to transport the meat, and nobody was arrested Friday.
She said NYK had voluntarily agreed to unload the containers.
"It's an absurd situation," said Greenpeace's Helmig. "It's illegal to import this meat into the Netherlands, but the authorities turn a blind eye when it passes through."
It was unclear what will happen with the meat.
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