March 18, 2025 15:37

A collision last week off the English coast between the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong and the U.S. oil tanker Stena Immaculate resulted in a spill of plastic micropellets, some of which have now reached sections of the coastline, aerial surveillance flights confirmed. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which reported the incident, is monitoring the situation.

The first signs of the spill were detected immediately after the March 10 collision off Wash Bay, in the form of a trail of dispersed material floating at sea.

Although the pellets are non-toxic, the Coastguard warns they pose a potential threat to marine life, as wildlife may ingest them, leading to ecological damage.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is investigating the cause of the incident. Initial findings indicate that the Solong struck the Stena Immaculate, which was anchored at the entrance of the Humber River. Among the 36 crew members of both vessels, one remains missing, while the others have been rescued.

Photo: UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

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