In pictures: Nuclear ship protest

Activists from the environmental group Greenpeace set sail to protest against a consignment of nuclear waste being transferred by cargo ship from Japan to Britain.

Eleven ships joined the protest flotilla

Along the way they battled inclement weather and high seas

They were in pursuit of a consignment of nuclear waste from Japan

The plan was to intercept the two cargo ships and form a ring around them

Despite the difficult conditions the protesters were in high spirits

In attempt to slow the ships down prominent Australian Green politician Ian Cohen jumped overboard

Greenpeace says the protest was a symbolic one - they never expected the ships to stop

Pictures supplied by Greenpeace Australia