The vital task of keeping the Yorkshire Coast’s historic harbours operational has received a significant boost following the relaxation of dredging restrictions.
North Yorkshire Council has welcomed the decision by the government’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to ease limits that had previously slowed the removal of silt and sand from the seabed in Whitby and Scarborough.
Dredging is a critical maintenance activity, ensuring that harbours remain deep enough for vessels to navigate safely. However, the process has faced challenges in recent years due to strict licensing conditions and a period where no dredging took place at all.
Chris Bourne, North Yorkshire Council’s head of harbours and coastal infrastructure, explained that the council has been working extensively to overcome these hurdles. He highlighted the recent breakthrough regarding the monthly limits on material removal.
"We've been on with the dredging for several months now in Whitby, but we've been somewhat hampered by the conditions that are attached to the dredging license around the quantities that could be removed and also an exclusion area around Endeavour Wharfe.
We've been working very hard to try to remove or relax those conditions. And I'm pleased to say that last week the MMO did agree to remove the 5,000 tug limit per month on dredging. So that does mean we can achieve more dredging and get the harbour drench quicker".
The council’s dedicated dredging vessel, Sandsend, has been at the forefront of this campaign. The authority had previously expressed regret that the former dredging licence was allowed to expire, making the current progress even more vital for the local maritime economy.
Emphasising the necessity of the work, Mr Bourne noted the difficulty the council faced in securing the necessary permissions. He said:
"Dredging is without a doubt the most important thing in both of the harbours.
There was no dredging for a period of years. It proved almost impossible to secure the dredging licenses. We've now managed to secure them and we're now managing to remove some of the associated conditions with those.
So dredging is ongoing now in Whitby and when the campaign in Whitby is completed, the dredger will come back down to Scarborough and do another dredging campaign down there and then it will come back to Whitby for a second campaign.
So dredging will be ongoing throughout this year".
While the council views the increased dredging capacity as essential "good news," the practice is not without its environmental considerations. The Environment Agency has previously cautioned that dredging and desilting can lead to "serious and long-lasting negative impacts on the environment".
According to the agency, potential risks include:
- The destruction or damage of fish spawning grounds.
- Increased instability of river banks.
Despite these environmental concerns, the council maintains that the work is fundamental to the survival of the harbours. Following the current efforts in Whitby, the Sandsend is scheduled to move to Scarborough to begin a campaign there, before returning north for a second round of work.
Mr Bourne confirmed that maritime residents and businesses should expect to see activity continuing for some time, stating that "dredging will be ongoing throughout this year".
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