At the end of each season, a dynamic solution was needed to evenly cover the site with sediment in order to protect it against the combined effects of strong currents, ground swells, seaweed and borer worms, not to mention scallop draggers and curious divers.
Starting in 2001, the protection of excavated areas called for a geotextile covering laid directly over the various architectural elements. The fabric was then weighted down with stones. Finally, sediment that had previously been removed during excavation was replaced, using the suction water dredges. This last phase, as well as the job of removing it the following year, was considerably shortened by the use of a geotextile fabric.
After the 1999, 2000 and 2008 campaigns, a large-scale distribution of sand across the two wrecks was carried out by the Compagnie Armoricaine de Navigation, using sand from the Côtes-d'Armor quarry. The use of more than 200 cubic metres of sand was necessary to protect the site, and to ensure that the strong currents in the area would not erode this artificial sand layer too quickly.
