Shipping spills and plastic pollution: A review of maritime governance in the North Sea

Plastic pollution of our oceans from land-based sources and shipping spills raises concerns for marine ecosystems, maritime industries and human health. This paper examines the systems and processes in place in the case of plastic pollution due to a shipping spill in the North Sea and the instruments and mechanisms to hold polluters accountable. A desk-based analysis was conducted, and 11 expert interviews contextualised the desk findings. From the 263 reported incidents from 1917 to 2021, 39 % of the reported container loss cases occurred in, or near, the North Sea. Fragmented jurisdiction, frail and uncoordinated policies, aid the shipping sector to deflect responsibility. Around 62 % of the obstacles mentioned by the interviewees addressed governance, including, notably, the lack of international measures, and regulations on shipping routes to protect sensitive areas. The study also identifies the difficulty to enforce compensation for the damage made to ecosystems and biodiversity. •263 shipping spills were reported from 1917 to 2021 worldwide.•39 % of reported container loss cases occurred in or near the North Sea.•Instruments to hold polluters accountable exist at multiple governance levels.•No specific regulations were found to address the case of container loss.•Enforcing compensation for damage made to biodiversity is difficult.