VANCOUVER - A few dozen protesters set up brief blockades Monday at entrances to Vancouver's port in solidarity with Occupy protesters along the U.S. West Coast.

Anti-Wall Street protesters in the United States have launched a movement called Wall Street on the Waterfront, and Occupy Vancouver protesters say they'll block the local port in solidarity with fellow Occupiers in San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, Tacoma and Seattle.

Vancouver protesters planned to be back at the port later Monday for a full 12-hour blockade.

On Monday morning, demonstrators held up a large banner proclaiming solidarity with longshore employees involved in a dispute at the Washington state port of Longview.

The disruption lasted for about an hour before the protest moved to a second gate into the port, which was blocked for less than 30 minutes before protesters moved on.

A spokeswoman for them said the group does not represent the Occupy Vancouver movement, although many of the blockade participants spent time at the now-dismantled encampment in downtown Vancouver.

Occupy Vancouver's website said participants were asking community groups, union members, residents and journalists to join the protest for a co-ordinated 12-hour port shutdown on the West Coast.

Peter Oxotta, vice-president of planning and operations at the Port of Vancouver, said plans are in place to deal with more disruptions, but he declined to reveal them.

"Our goal, of course, is to maintain port operations through the day," he said.

"We certainly support the right to safe and peaceful protest, but our job is to make sure the port continues to operate and so far today that's happening."

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