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<p>When the container ship X-PRESS PEARL caught fire and sank off the Sri Lankan coast
in 2021, a significant quantity of plastic nurdles were released into the marine environment.
Following the incident, the Sri Lankan government submitted a paper to the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) which sets out several proposed measures aimed at preventing
similar spills of plastic nurdles in the future and identifying tools to manage such
spills should they occur.</p><p> </p><p>The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA),
which provides the UK’s representation at the IMO, is actively engaged in IMO work
focussed on the issue of marine plastics. Whilst the proposals that have been put
forward will need further refinement and consideration within the IMO, the MCA is
supportive of efforts to reduce marine plastic pollution and welcomes the debate in
an international forum.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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