Port of Tyne confirm three damaged containers were involved in the South Shields nurdle spill
A total of three damaged containers were leaking plastic pellets into the River Tyne, it has been confirmed.
The Port of Tyne has confirmed how many containers were involved in an incident which resulted in an estimated 25 tonnes of plastic pellets being spilled into the River Tyne.
Known as nurdles, the pellets escaped into the river, after a Wind Orca vessel was in collision with the berthed container ship BG Orange on Sunday, July 19.
The team clearing the spillage for the Port of Tyne has now said three containers carrying nurdles had their contents leaked.
Two of the three containers have now been fully cleared according to Port chiefs, while a third damaged container is not empty, but is no longer spilling plastic into the river.
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A statement from the Port of Tyne said: “The damaged containers carrying the pellets, which subsequently leaked into the river, were secured with a scaffolding frame and enclosed before an industrial vacuum was used to collect the nurdles. This marks a significant step forward to clean up the pellets after the collision.
“A specialist team arrived at the Port at the weekend and began work immediately. A third container which contains some pellets is damaged but is not presently leaking. Plans are underway to have the ship moved and the container taken ashore.
“Over the weekend significant progress was made on the river to clear nurdles in various locations along the river. At the North Shields Ferry terminal, workers used flushing techniques to free stranded pellets before collecting them. A boom was also erected at Jarrow Bridge on the river Don.
“Progress is also being made in the planning to clear the wreckage on land, including the collapse of a 750-tonne gantry crane, part of which remains in contact with the container ship.”
Following the collapse of the crane a man was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for treatment.
One day after the initial spill, nurdles began washing up on beaches across the North East, including Littlehaven Beach. A clean up operation remains ongoing, headed up by South Tyneside Council alongside environmental groups.
The companies behind the ships have deployed specialist contractors to support the clean-up.