Zuiderdam prevented from leaving port by protesters

[Moriah]

Just watched the Z. sail away.  I hope they can make up the 6 hour delay on the way to Copenhagen.

[fatcat04]

No response = more and more of this nonsense later. The simple assumption nothing will happen to them when they do such stupid dangerous stunts is telling. I don't give a rats patoot what they are protesting, this is not how you do it. There are better, less antagonistic, less dangerous ways of getting your point across. Can you imagine what the officers were thinking and what a horrible position this puts them in? 

Edited June 9, 2019 by fatcat04

[scubacruiserx2]

At about 21:30 the Polizei boats began removing the protesters and their boats away from the Zuiderdam . Several , 4 that we saw , jumped into the water to try to swim away from the Polizei . We heard nothing derogatory said to the protesters except a lady who said that her mom was sick and they were preventing  her from flying home . We and others applauded the Pollizei and  HAL  and thanked them for a job well done . We cast off lines at 21:45 and set sail at 22:00 . We will be at least 2 hours late creating massive problems for thousands of people . There a number of older people leading the younger people ( we have photos and videos ) in their unlawful actions . There is NO good excuse for unlawfully detained a ship , passengers and it's crew .

[Krazy Kruizers]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

At about 21:30 the Polizei boats began removing the protesters and their boats away from the Zuiderdam . Several , 4 that we saw , jumped into the water to try to swim away from the Polizei . We heard nothing derogatory said to the protesters except a lady who said that her mom was sick and they were preventing  her from flying home . We and others applauded the Pollizei and  HAL  and thanked them for a job well done . We cast off lines at 21:45 and set sail at 22:00 . We will be at least 2 hours late creating massive problems for thousands of people . There a number of older people leading the younger people ( we have photos and videos ) in their unlawful actions . There is NO good excuse for unlawfully detained a ship , passengers and it's crew .

 

Thank you for the update.

[Smith0154]

My sister in law is currently on that sailing and though I know its not a threat to the passengers its more of an inconvenience to them all depending on what time German law enforcement is able to get the situation under control.

Has anyone heard the current status of the vessel?

 

Smitty

[Copper10-8]

19 minutes ago, Smith0154 said:

My sister in law is currently on that sailing and though I know its not a threat to the passengers its more of an inconvenience to them all depending on what time German law enforcement is able to get the situation under control.

Has anyone heard the current status of the vessel?

 

Smitty

 

Steaming north at 20.6 knots in the Samsoe Strait, northwest of Kalundborg, Sjaelland, Denmark, and southeast of Samsoe Island, heading for the Kattegat Strait (Cat's Throat) and via the Oresund Strait to "Wonderful, wonderful Kobenhavn, friendly old girl of a town" 

 

 

 

[AncientWanderer]

Maybe the local authorities knew more about it than we do?  They might know who the local kooks are.

 

This ended as well as it could, so it was maybe handled the right way.  I was more worried about these idiot protesters than the ship.  They really put themselves in a very dangerous position.  Totally wrong, though, that they got as close to the ship as they did.  I'm sure heads will roll about that -- and I hope the protesters have to face some penalty for this event.   But anyhow, thank God nobody was hurt either way.  Young people do foolish things.

 

Poor scubacruiserx2 seems like he's having a bizarre cruise.  I hope the rest of the journey goes as planned!!

[LisArtist]

My mother is sailing on the Zuiderdam.  We were texting throughout the day.  The protesters attached numerous small boats to the ship, were said to have boarded the ship, and occupied a crane at the Kiel port.

 

The protestors were organized, and as the hours passed it became apparent that they were trying to disrupt the Holland America Line financially.  The ship was one day from its final port with numerous passengers travel connections being disrupted.  The protesters seemed to not be trying to convince the cruisers to have a change of heart on their environmental impact, but on making the industry take note.  They picked a time and place that would financially make HAL take notice.  The group called itself a name that takes aim at the industry, so brace yourself for future reoccurring disruptions.

 

The casino onboard was trying to get special permission to cash out chips as the crew and port authorities tried to sort out the mess.  

 

The Kiel authorities and port security were ill prepared.  

 

 

[LisArtist]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tag24.de/amp/protestaktion-aktivisten-blockieren-auslaufendes-kreuzfahrtschiff-hafen-kiel-dann-kommt-die-polizei-1093157

[LisArtist]

The article is in German but it talks about who the group is and what happened.

Edited June 10, 2019 by LisArtist
Duplicate link

[scubacruiserx2]

13 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

Maybe the local authorities knew more about it than we do?  They might know who the local kooks are.

 

This ended as well as it could, so it was maybe handled the right way.  I was more worried about these idiot protesters than the ship.  They really put themselves in a very dangerous position.  Totally wrong, though, that they got as close to the ship as they did.  I'm sure heads will roll about that -- and I hope the protesters have to face some penalty for this event.   But anyhow, thank God nobody was hurt either way.  Young people do foolish things.

 

Poor scubacruiserx2 seems like he's having a bizarre cruise.  I hope the rest of the journey goes as planned!!

 

Yes this has been a bizarre cruise for the all the people yesterday and the independent travelers in particular . We will be touring Copenhagen today and rejoining the ship later in the day . Anybody with flights today before 13:00 will have trouble catching or rebooking flights . HAL gave free internet and phone calls last night and we are sure that they were busy  last night and today .

 

[ScoBoo]

4 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Just as a point of reference... it is the port authority which is responsible for security; not the cruise line.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

Thank you for your comment, Miss G, and others who have kindly made the same point. I should have been more clear in my comment.

 

I understand that it is the responsibility of a port authority to determine the level of security. HAL is a sizable company with significant leverage. This leverage should be used to ensure greater security for its passengers and employees at any port where HAL docks its ships. HAL should find another port that wants HAL’s business - and the revenue from its passengers and crew - enough to provide a secure perimeter around its vessels, much like the level of security provided around an aircraft that sits on a tarmac loading and unloading passengers.

 

HAL is responsible along with the Kiel port authority and the public safety officials who stood by meekly ‘monitoring’ this situation for ten hours.

 

Kind regards.

[GUEST080219]

16 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

 

Interesting.  Would the two of you say that the port, perhaps, had a hand in promoting this protest by standing back and allowing it to happen?

 

I doubt that. Its probably impossible to avoid. I am traveling at the moment so I haven’t had the time to review all pictures and videos but from what I could see so far. The activists had professional equipment and probably had planned that for weeks. 

And a group of 50+ people with the skills and physical capabilities showed are not getting stopped by a fence or two. 

 

Mans after they blocked the ship it was the job of law enforcement and considering that there was no danger for well being of anyone they just followed their usual protocol. 

[richwmn]

20 minutes ago, ScoBoo said:

 

Thank you for your comment, Miss G, and others who have kindly made the same point. I should have been more clear in my comment.

 

I understand that it is the responsibility of a port authority to determine the level of security. HAL is a sizable company with significant leverage. This leverage should be used to ensure greater security for its passengers and employees at any port where HAL docks its ships. HAL should find another port that wants HAL’s business - and the revenue from its passengers and crew - enough to provide a secure perimeter around its vessels, much like the level of security provided around an aircraft that sits on a tarmac loading and unloading passengers.

 

HAL is responsible along with the Kiel port authority and the public safety officials who stood by meekly ‘monitoring’ this situation for ten hours.

 

Kind regards.

I'm not sure how you feel that HAL is responsible. HAL contracted with the Kiel Port Authority to provide security. Kiew did not provide that security. We have no way of knowing if the Port wants HALs business. This could have been the work of a small group of people, where the general population is happy to get the business HAL provides. If HAL feels that his is no longer the case, they will in fact find another port.

 

[AncientWanderer]

1 hour ago, micm said:

 

As a German. No I am not ashamed. Well organized protest of the group and quite successful. Will hopefully lead to a political debate and changes in environmental laws for cruise cruise ship. You could have used the time to learn more about environmental protests in Germany. 

 

This wasn’t special or reckless. Those way of protests have a tradition and are well respected since the anti-atom movement and the recent anti coal protests. 

 

I wonder.

There are so many places that really want the business.  My fear is that the ships will sail on, and Kiel will be the big loser here.  I cannot tell you how many ports of call I have been to where the local people are organized to greet the tourists, help guide them around, offer the best of hospitality.  That is just the way it is.  

[Germancruiser]

Welcome to cruise critic Scobo- bravo! Excatly that I will tell them- as - so it seem-  will you tell yours! 'Good advice!

Except for the smoking - that I do not- but anyway thats neighter here nor there!

When I told my grandchildren I will tell them- ask them-  maybe to do better- which I dout they can.

You call those activists " selfish"- oh oh oh- you should not throw stones when sitting in a house made of glas!

Oh,  and by the way- nothing ever could ruin my cruise photos! LOL!

Edited June 10, 2019 by Germancruiser

[Germancruiser]

That the police and the security people just stood by is certainly possible. I thing more like they were taken by surprise!

Except for maybe Hamburg the German ports are not that popular- well Warnemünde too- because of the proximity to Berlin.

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We are currently casting lines to shore at Terminal 2 in Copenhagen 0800 local time  .

 

 

[ScoBoo]

2 hours ago, richwmn said:

I'm not sure how you feel that HAL is responsible. HAL contracted with the Kiel Port Authority to provide security. Kiew did not provide that security. We have no way of knowing if the Port wants HALs business. This could have been the work of a small group of people, where the general population is happy to get the business HAL provides. If HAL feels that his is no longer the case, they will in fact find another port.

 

 

Thanks for asking!

 

HAL shares responsibility for port security and vessel security under international maritime law. The ship Master has a responsibility for security under these agreements in addition to the country maintaining the port.

 

Since these eco-terrorists began their activities around noon, the Master had four hours prior to scheduled departure to increase the security level from MARSEC 1 to an appropriate level, such as MARSEC 2 or 3, in order to protect passengers and crew. The Master has broad discretion to act on behalf of the company (HAL) in order to protect passengers and crew. The Master - along with the public ‘safety’ personnel - stood idly by as eco-terrorists became in direct contact with our vessel. The level of inaction by the Master and public safety personnel put the passengers and crew at risk for ten hours. That’s unacceptable and irresponsible.

 

 

[GUEST080219]

Were any of the passengers and crew harmed, attacked or in any danger. Was property destroyed or the integrity of the ship damaged? As far as I know not at all and there have been no attempts to do so. 

 

If that is correct true judgement of the master can’t have been so terribly wrong.  

 

Some make it sounds like a group of terrorists attaches explosives to the ship and it was just a minute from sinking 😂 

[G.M.T.]

11 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

At about 21:30 the Polizei boats began removing the protesters and their boats away from the Zuiderdam . Several , 4 that we saw , jumped into the water to try to swim away from the Polizei . We heard nothing derogatory said to the protesters except a lady who said that her mom was sick and they were preventing  her from flying home . We and others applauded the Pollizei and  HAL  and thanked them for a job well done . We cast off lines at 21:45 and set sail at 22:00 . We will be at least 2 hours late creating massive problems for thousands of people . There a number of older people leading the younger people ( we have photos and videos ) in their unlawful actions . There is NO good excuse for unlawfully detained a ship , passengers and it's crew .

It is still lawful to protest in Germany

[G.M.T.]

4 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

 

Interesting.  Would the two of you say that the port, perhaps, had a hand in promoting this protest by standing back and allowing it to happen?

In Germany we now have the year 2019 and n ot 1933.

[G.M.T.]

3 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

I wonder.

There are so many places that really want the business.  My fear is that the ships will sail on, and Kiel will be the big loser here.  I cannot tell you how many ports of call I have been to where the local people are organized to greet the tourists, help guide them around, offer the best of hospitality.  That is just the way it is.  

Kiel was a lively city before the cruise boom and will remain so after the cruise boom has gone bust.

[G.M.T.]

3 hours ago, Germancruiser said:

Oh,  and by the way- nothing ever could ruin my cruise photos! LOL!

No! Then try my dear MiL.

[Despegue]

1 hour ago, ScoBoo said:

 

Thanks for asking!

 

HAL shares responsibility for port security and vessel security under international maritime law. The ship Master has a responsibility for security under these agreements in addition to the country maintaining the port.

 

Since these eco-terrorists began their activities around noon, the Master had four hours prior to scheduled departure to increase the security level from MARSEC 1 to an appropriate level, such as MARSEC 2 or 3, in order to protect passengers and crew. The Master has broad discretion to act on behalf of the company (HAL) in order to protect passengers and crew. The Master - along with the public ‘safety’ personnel - stood idly by as eco-terrorists became in direct contact with our vessel. The level of inaction by the Master and public safety personnel put the passengers and crew at risk for ten hours. That’s unacceptable and irresponsible.

 

 

The protesters were peaceful and without violence.

we are a civilised area in Europe, where police  DO NOT shoot people at first sight, like in some other countries.

 

Passengers nor crew were at risk, no damage was done to the vessel.

I do not agree with how the protesters handled this, as passengers should never be victim, but do NOT start spreading fake news, as you start to resemble Fox News.

 

the protest did NOT warrant a one-sided increase to Marsec 2 by the Master while Kiel remained Marsec 1 .Know your protocols before critisizing.