ABC reported that 9 environmental activists will face court next month after breaking into several coal terminals at the Port of Newcastle at the weekend.

Forty one protesters from the group, Rising Tide Newcastle, were arrested yesterday.

Police say they broke into Newcastle's three coal terminals at dawn, climbing on top of piles of coal and tying themselves to machinery.

Operations at the port had to be stopped for most of the day.

Seven men and two women have been charged with trespassing after they allegedly climbed onto two coal loaders.

Some abseiled down the machine's cables and were hanging 45 metres above the ground.

Police expect to fine the other 32 protesters with entering and remaining on enclosed lands.

(Sourced from abc.net.au)