blokkadraftar

Blokkadraftar is a term used in some Nordic languages to describe a protest tactic that combines a blockade with the use of floating barriers or rafts to obstruct waterway traffic. The practice typically involves deploying improvised or purpose-built floating devices on rivers, harbors, or coastal approaches to impede ships, ferries, or other vessels for a limited period. It is used in civil-disobedience campaigns, environmental protests, or worker demonstrations, with the aim of drawing attention to a cause while maintaining non-violent methods.

The word is a compound built from blokk- meaning “block” or “to obstruct” and raftar, meaning “rafts” in several Nordic languages. The term is descriptive rather than codified, so its exact implementation and legal treatment vary by country and event.

In practice, blokkadraftar can range from simple floating barriers assembled from barrels or pallets to more elaborate structures anchored to the seabed or secured by lines. Proponents emphasize symbolic visibility and disruption of normal flows of commerce, while critics highlight safety and legal concerns.

Related concepts include blockades, maritime protests, flotillas, and civil disobedience.