Whitby Dredging Operations Making Good Progress

Thursday, 18 September 2025 06:00

By Matthew Pells

Three and half thousand tonnes of Sand have been removed from Whitby since dredging operations restarted in the Town's harbour.

The local dredging vessel - The Sandsend - now also has two skippers which has increased the amount of time it is available for use.

Town Councillor Linda Wild has welcomed the developments.

Dredging operations are progressing following the granting of a license for 50,000 tons at maximum 5,000 tons per month, which is expected to be fully utilized.

The dredging will primarily target the channel now and pontoons during the winter period where more boats are lifted out.

Councillor Wild says the addition of a second skipper for the Sandsend has improved the situation.

"The dredger has now increased resilience with two skippers available. Allowing for more consistent and efficient operations compared to previous periods when only one skipper was available.

The team is currently catching up on dredging work that was paused for approximately a year and a half.

Around 3,600 tons of sand have already been removed, and the focus has now been shifted to softer siltation."

Dredging operations in Whitby Harbour resumed in July after North Yorkshire Council secured a new licence from the Marine Management Organisation. The dredging was previously halted while the council worked to obtain the new license, a process which was more involved than in the past, requiring the council to appoint a consultant to answer technical questions from the licensing body.

The dredging is a crucial process for maintaining the harbour's navigability, as it removes the silt and sand that are carried downstream and accumulate in the channels, which could otherwise restrict access for fishing boats, recreational vessels, and other commercial traffic [

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