One Billion Plastic Pellets Spill Into River Tyne After Offshore Vessel Collides With Container Ship
Around one billion plastic pellets used to make plastic products spilled into the River Tyne after a cargo vessel collided with a berthed container ship at the Port of Tyne.
The spill happened on Sunday when the Wind Orca struck the berthed container ship BG Orange.
The collision also caused a dockside gantry crane to collapse, and one person was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Environmental charity Fidra said up to 25 tonnes of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, entered the river. The pellets, usually between 1 mm and 5 mm in size, are the raw material used to manufacture most plastic products.
The Port of Tyne said it activated its…