Greenpeace activists board ship transporting Volkswagen diesel cars to UK

Protesters from Greenpeace have boarded the vehicle carrier Elbe Highway, in an attempt to block its shipment of diesel Volkswagen cars from being delivered to the UK. 

A group of activists boarded the ship and attached themselves to the large retractable loading ramps at the stern, while another group gained access to the area ashore where vehicles await distribution to dealers. 

Police received reports of the protest at 08:52.

September is traditionally an important month for car retailers, as buyers react to the 'plate change' that takes place every six months. It's unclear whether today's Greenpeace protest will have an impact on September customer deliveries.

Elbe Highway is a 148m-long vehicle carrier, built in 2005 and sailing under the flag of the Bahamas. Her gross tonnage is 23,498t. She is understood to contain thousands of cars built at Volkswagen's factory in Emden, in the very north-western tip of Germany.

Two years ago, Volkswagen was the main brand implicated in the Dieselgate emissions scandal, in which manufacturers had cheated in emissions testing. This prompted industry-wide changes, as well as new regulations and a shift in public perception of diesel fuel. 

The uptake of diesel fuel was once encouraged by governments. Diesel produces less of the greenhouse gas CO2, but more of the toxins that cause health problems on a local level.