A man has been arrested after attempting to scale the mooring lines of a cruise ship docked at Sydney’s Circular Quay in front of a crowd of onlookers.
The 29-year-old climbed onto the Carnival Adventure’s tethering ropes about 3pm on Saturday at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney Harbour.
Social media videos captured the bizarre stunt, with bystanders gasping and laughing as the man made his way across the mooring line, suspended above the harbour.
NSW Police said officers arrived to find the man still clinging to the rope.
A police vessel could be seen approaching the man and the mooring line was slowly slackened and lowered toward the water to the sound of laughter from the shore.
Footage showed an officer quickly grabbing the man and pulling him aboard the vessel before taking him back to land.
Four officers then escorted him from the terminal.
He was taken to Day Street Police Station and later charged with three offences.
A man seen climbing the mooring lines of a cruise ship on Sydney Harbour has been arrested
They included entering a cleared zone when not screened and cleared; entering a land-side restricted zone when not authorised; and entering a water-side restricted zone when not authorised.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on June 11.
On social media, viewers were divided, with many impressed by the larrikin feat.
‘That’s amazing, he didn’t even lose a (sandal),’ one said.
‘No-one can have any fun these days,’ another added of the arrest.
‘What’s wrong with what he did? Like, he didn’t do any damage?’ a third asked.
Others were unamused and slammed the man for his behaviour.
‘This is a completely ridiculous thing to do,’ one wrote.
‘It’s a stupid thing to do and if old mate fell the coroner’s inquest would be to get rid of the ship and build a massive fence around the water, ruining it for everyone else!’ another feared.
