Twelve Greenpeace protesters remain chained high in the rigging of a ship in the Port of Tauranga tonight.

Police negotiations with the protesters have continued all day and into the night. Greenpeace is attempting to stop the ship, the East Ambition, from unloading its cargo of palm kernel from Indonesia. The protesters claim the palm product trade encourages the destruction of endangered rainforests and worsens climate change.

The ship had been stranded at anchor most of the day, after a protester had secured himself to the anchor chain, four kilometres off the Tauranga Harbour entrance. Tauranga police say officers remain on board and negotiations will continue to have the protesters removed from the ship tonight.

"We believe the protesters are well secured to the vessel and any attempt to remove them must be carefully considered, given the risks involved in working in marine environment and significant height considerations," says BOP communications manager Jacky James.

"We consider their actions extremely irresponsible, exposing the ship's crew, emergency personnel and the protesters themselves to potential risk of serious harm. Our primary concern still remains the safety of everyone involved."

The following video shows the ship entering port, with the dozen protesters still hanging high aloft in the rigging of the ship's cranes.

See earlier reports, photos and video from the SunLive/Waterline Magazine boat.

East Ambition Arrives Port of Tauranga from Sun Live on Vimeo.