Watch out for nurdles on the beach
On the 10th of March off the coast of East Yorkshire there was a collision between a tanker ship and a cargo ship. The collision resulted in fires on both ships.
The SOSREP, part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), quickly starting assessing the situation and working with the relevant companies involved including salvors, the companies that deal with ships that have been damaged or sunk, and the insurance companies.
After primary concerns about crew on both ships, the main concern was the environmental impact from the fires and any spillage and debris from the ships.
Other agencies became involved due to the potential pollution impact. They include The Department for Environment , Food an Rural Affairs (Defra), The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), The Counter Pollution and Salvage Team.
Not to mention the local police and port authorities that could be affected by any environmental impact.
On the 16th of March the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) notified the MCA that they had spotted nurdles in the water near to The Wash, a rectangular bay between Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
Nurdles are being washed up along the shores of the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coast.
What are nurdles?
Nurdles are small plastic pellets typically less than 5 mm in size and they could be described as resembling small beads. They are the raw material that’s used to make many plastic product including water bottles, grocery bags and polystyrene foam.
Spillages of nurdles can be dangerous to the environment . They could be spilled during production, during transport, during use to produce objects, dusring transport of the final products and even incorrect disposal and littering of the final product.
If the nurdles are so small, how can they hurt anything?
Raw nurdles can be clear, white or any colour during production. They can be mistaken as eggs or small critters by fish, mammals an other animals or land. They can poison and choke the affected critters, which in turn could be eaten by larger critters that could poison them too.
The wider damage nurdles can cause is to the human food chain.
Critters that eat the nurdles may not immediately die and continue to live with nurdles in them, then humans come along and fish or farm the affected critters.
Even if nurdles are not ingested, any washed up on the beaches or along rives can change them.
If you come across any nurdles or possible pollution along the Norfolk coast or surrounding areas please call Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on 0344 382 0580 or email
If possible, please provide a 'What Three Words' location or a grid reference to assist HM Coastguard to identify the exact location.
Stay safe Pals!