Dredging to begin soon at Scarborough harbor

The main harbor on the North Yorkshire coast is set to see dredging taking place after a new license has been secured.

North Yorkshire Council (UK) has received the license from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) after a rigorous application process over the last few months.

Dredging is required to remove silt and sand at the bottom of the harbors. As they wash downstream in Whitby and through the harbour mouth in Scarborough, sediment fills channels and harbors, and needs to be regularly removed.

Cllr Mark Crane said: “We are delighted that all licenses and insurances are in place for Scarborough, with the license for Whitby expected to follow imminently.”

“While we have been waiting for the licenses, harbour staff have been working hard to monitor the dredging depths and the state of the harbors. We have also had significant work on the vessel to ensure it’s fit for purpose,” added Crane.

The vessel named Sandsend will used to dredge Scarborough harbor. It is hoped that a license to operate in Whitby will also be secured in the New Year.