Port of Tyne criticised over River Tyne plastic nurdle spill response

The BBC has learned that measures to address a massive spill of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, into the River Tyne were not deployed until several days after the incident. The spill followed a collision at the Port of Tyne on 19 July between the wind turbine installation vessel Wind Orca and the berthed container ship BG Orange, damaging two containers. A gantry crane collapsed and lay across the BG Orange. With the containers carrying nurdles, volunteers supported a cleanup along north-east England beaches, though North Tyneside Council had asked residents not to remove pellets themselves. Port of Tyne said a boom was deployed on 22 July, three days later.