A NEW dredger is about to become a regular sight off the coast.

The converted Dutch river barge was launched yesterday by Scarborough Borough Council and given the name of the vessel it replaces - Sandsend.

The vessel has cost about £750,000 to buy and convert - much cheaper than the cost of buying a new one, which was estimated at £1.4m.

It replaces the old Sandsend, which has come to the end of its life after ten years in service.

The council's ports manager, Bill Estill, said the new vessel was a vital replacement.

"We bought it as a Dutch river barge and have since had extensive conversion work done to put in engines and a wheelhouse and other modifications to get it seaworthy," he said.

"It is a pretty special craft with an ingenious hinging mechanism in the middle that allows it to split in half to carry out its dredging work, up and down our coast.

"The old Sandsend came into operation back in 1993 and the vessel was second-hand then, so it had been working for some considerable time."

Yesterday's ceremony, at the Eskside Wharf in Whitby, was performed by the borough's mayor, Freda Coultas.

The conversion work was carried out by Parkol Marine, of Whitby.