Members of the Northumbria Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) have joined a multi-agency operation to help clean up nurdles released into the River Tyne following a collision last month.
Collision and spill
On Sunday, July 19, the Wind Orca collided with the BG Orange, with containers on the latter ship being ripped open, and holes being torn in its hull, leading to tonnes of plastic pellets spilling into the river.
The MVS volunteers were called into action at the request of the Port of Tyne and provided boats and crew to assist with the afloat clean-up operation.
Coordinated response
The response was coordinated by Regional Volunteer Officer Angela Carrington, who worked alongside teams from the Port of Tyne, the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA), the Newcastle Motor Boat Club and Newcastle University.
The organisations worked together on the river to locate and recover the small plastic pellets, which can pose a significant environmental risk if they enter the wider marine environment.
Volunteer support
Angela Carrington 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."
The Northumbria Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service is a voluntary organisation whose members support maritime activities across the region, providing practical assistance, training and community support on and around the waterways.
The MVS emphasises that it is not a blue-light emergency service and does not replace the role of professional emergency responders, but its trained volunteers can provide valuable additional support when requested by the appropriate authorities.
Environmental impact
The nurdle clean-up operation brought together a range of organisations with a shared objective to minimise the environmental impact of the spill and protect the River Tyne and its surrounding waters.
It was reported earlier this month by ChronicleLive that the full impact of a nurdle spill into the River Tyne 'may take years to understand', with environmental charity saying the plastic pollution can have a huge impact on fish, wildlife and habitats.
