Maritime volunteers join River Tyne clean-up

Maritime volunteers have taken to the River Tyne as part of a multi-agency operation to clean up thousands of small plastic pellets following a collision between two vessels at the Port of Tyne.

The spill occurred after the Wind Orca collided with the berthed container ship BG Orange, damaging a quayside crane and releasing up to 25 tonnes of plastic nurdles into the river and surrounding beaches.

Members of the Northumbria Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) provided boats and crew after receiving a request for assistance from the Port of Tyne.

The operation, coordinated by regional volunteer officer Angela Carrington, brought MVS members together with the Port of Tyne, Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, Newcastle Motor Boat Club and Newcastle University.

Teams worked on the river to locate and recover nurdles, small plastic pellets which can pose an environmental risk if they spread into the wider marine ecosystem.

Angela said: “The Maritime Volunteer Service is always happy to lend our support when we are called upon to assist with an operation like this.

“Our volunteers have the boats, skills and local knowledge to be able to get out on the water and play our part alongside the professional organisations involved.

“It was a great example of different organisations working together, with everyone bringing their own expertise and resources to the response. 

“Our volunteers were very pleased to be able to help.”

While the MVS is not an emergency service, its trained volunteers provide additional maritime support when requested by relevant authorities.

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