North Sea Ship Collision Spurs Environmental Crisis with Plastic Pellet Spill

Fires on both vessels are extinguished, but nurdles washing ashore threaten wildlife as cleanup efforts intensify.

The collision between the cargo ship Solong and tanker Stena Immaculate on March 10 released plastic nurdles and jet fuel into the North Sea, causing significant environmental concerns.
Thousands of nurdles, small plastic pellets used in manufacturing, have been spotted in the water and on beaches along the Norfolk coast, posing risks to seabirds and marine life if ingested.
Salvage and retrieval operations are ongoing to recover the spilled nurdles, with authorities and environmental groups warning of long-term ecosystem damage.
The Solong's captain has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter, and one crew member from the ship is missing and presumed dead.
Insured financial losses from the incident are estimated to range between $100 million and $300 million, with aerial surveillance continuing to monitor pollution risks.