Greenpeace activists in kayaks and boats are protesting against a 23,498-tonne ship on a major import route bringing Volkswagen diesel cars into the UK. Greenpeace's clean air campaigners come alongside and board the huge car carrier in the Thames Estuary.
Simultaneously, Greenpeace volunteers gain access to the vehicle park at Sheerness port in Kent - the intended destination of the ship – where several thousand VW cars are awaiting distribution to suppliers, attempting to immobilise all of the VW diesel cars by removing the keys.
Diesel cars are toxic. Independent testing commissioned by Greenpeace UK showed one of the company’s most iconic diesel cars, the VW Golf, emits almost three times more toxic pollutants than manufacturers’ tests when driven on a busy urban road.