Minister praises volunteers nurdle spillage clean-up
Two 40-foot containers fell off the MSC Susanna causing the spillage of plastic nurdles in the Port of Durban
THE Department of Environmental Affairs has praised members of the public who have assisted after the nurdle spillage along the KZN coast.
Speaking last week at an Authorities Meeting to assess the status of the spillage, Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa said, ‘The Department is well aware that the incident resulted in widespread local volunteer-based clean-up initiatives across the province.
‘It is the view of the Department that such initiatives are a demonstration of the high levels of environmental concern and awareness expressed by the coastal communities of Kwazulu-Natal.
‘The Department therefore would like to commend all persons involved in the response to the incident to date.
‘Members of the public are encouraged to join in and to contribute toward the protection of the coast,’ she said.
ALSO READ: Nurdle spillage along coastline proves difficult to handle
Present situation
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has issued a directive to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), to take full responsibility for a clean-up operation of plastic nurdles along the KZN coast.
The pollution response company, Drizit Environmental, appointed to assist with the clean-up, reported that their immediate foci are Durban’s beaches and the northern coastline.
The operation includes the containment and recovery of floating nurdles in the Port of Durban.
The Working for the Coast teams have also been deployed along the coast, and increasing the number of teams is being considered.
Harbour spillage
Two 40-foot containers fell off the MSC Susanna causing the spillage of plastic nurdles in the Port of Durban.
Each container contained 990 bags of low and high density polyethylene packed in 25kg bags.
The total loss is estimated to be 49 tons.
Transnet announced that the missing containers have been located on the seabed at the Durban Container Terminal.
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