Overview
- A collision at the Port of Tyne on 19 July between the Wind Orca and the berthed BG Orange caused a gantry crane to collapse and damaged a container holding nurdles.
- About 25 tonnes of plastic pellets, roughly one billion nurdles, were lost into the River Tyne and millions have washed up along North East beaches.
- Port of Tyne, local councils, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and specialist contractors are running a round‑the‑clock operation using booms, boats and beach‑recovery equipment with some marinas starting their own clean‑ups.
- Authorities say the pellets are not toxic to people on shore but can harm wildlife if ingested and they advise the public not to touch nurdles, to keep dogs on leads and to report sightings.
- The Environment Agency has opened an investigation and regional leaders are pressing shipowners to provide immediate funds while campaigners call for mandatory UK rules to prevent future pellet spills.