Up to 1bn plastic pellets spill into Tyne after ships collide

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 23, 2026

A collision between the cargo vessel Wind Orca and the container ship BG Orange at the Port of Tyne caused up to one billion plastic nurdles to spill into the River Tyne, with pellets washing ashore and an injury reported. The spill poses a significant threat to local wildlife, particularly seabirds near Marsden Bay, prompting ongoing cleanup efforts and calls for stricter regulations to prevent future incidents.

Up to one billion plastic nurdles, small pellets measuring between 1mm and 5mm that serve as raw materials for plastic manufacturing, have spilled into the River Tyne following a ship collision at the Port of Tyne in South Shields. The incident occurred Sunday when the cargo vessel Wind Orca collided with the berthed container ship BG Orange. One person was reported injured in the collision.

South Tyneside council estimated that as much as 25 tonnes of nurdles entered the water as a result of the spill. The pellets were subsequently found washed ashore on South Shields beach, prompting local authorities to advise residents against handling the pellets and to keep dogs on leads. Although the nurdles are not toxic, they pose a risk to wildlife as they can be mistaken for food by various species. Previous studies have documented nurdles in the digestive systems of seabirds in the North Sea, as well as marine animals such as green turtles and fish in other parts of the world.

The spill occurred less than three miles (approximately five kilometers) from Marsden Bay, an area known for its significant seabird colony, raising concerns about potential environmental impacts. Local resident Alistair Leadbetter described the sight of nurdles covering the beach as “really shocked,” underscoring community concern.

Environmental charity Fidra, which has been monitoring the spill, noted that reports of nurdle sightings have extended southward to Sunderland, about seven miles from South Shields, suggesting the pellets may have dispersed more widely than initially expected. HM Coastguard confirmed it is working alongside local emergency services to manage the incident, with efforts focused on affected areas including Tynemouth Longsands, Cullercoats, and King Edward’s Bay.

Heather McFarlane of Fidra called the spill “devastating” and emphasized the need for stronger regulatory measures to prevent such pollution in the future. She highlighted that many pellet spills could be avoided through improved packaging and safer stowage protocols during transport.

Requests for comment from the Port of Tyne authorities and Wind Orca’s owners were made but no responses had been received at the time of reporting. Cleanup operations and environmental assessments are ongoing as officials work to mitigate the spill’s impact on the local ecosystem.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.