Seabed tests to boost coast bathing waters

The 215-tonne vessel will be used at Bridlington and then Scarborough to collect sediment and rock samples along the route of three proposed storm overflow pipes, which will be built by Yorkshire Water next year.

Company officials admitted the barge will be visible from the coast, but stressed the work has to be carried out while the sea is at its calmest. The tests will start in Bridlington on Thursday, before the barge heads up to Scarborough about 10 days later. Work in the resort’s North Bay is expected to last for two weeks, before the vessel moves to Scalby Ness.

Yorkshire Water has joined forces with the Environment Agency and councils to launch the £110m scheme to ensure bathing waters can achieve a new “excellent” standard due to come into force in 2015 as part of a new European directive.