UK Removes Masts from Sunken WWII Ship Wreck with Massive Explosive Payload

POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — The British government has completed a delicate operation to extract the masts from the SS Richard Montgomery, a cargo vessel from World War II that has rested on the floor of the Thames Estuary for decades.

In a formal update provided to Parliament, the Department for Transport confirmed that engineers successfully retrieved the three masts from the sunken ship. This move followed warnings in 2020 from specialists who noted that the immense weight of the masts was compromising the structural integrity of the already corroding hull.

While the removal addresses a specific structural risk, the site remains incredibly dangerous, as approximately 13,700 explosive devices are still located deep beneath the seabed.

Nolan Conway, an architect with the salvage firm Resolve Marine Group, explained to CBS News that the vessel was showing signs of leaning and decay-related collapse. He noted that the primary fear during the operation was the masts falling onto the cargo, potentially triggering a catastrophic detonation.

The SS Richard Montgomery was manufactured in 1943 in Jacksonville and arrived in the UK carrying roughly 7,000 tons of military ordnance. While attempting to anchor near Sheerness, the ship lost hold of its anchor and ran aground on a sandbank. Although the crew managed to offload half of the munitions, a breach in the hull led to the ship eventually sinking.

Authorities have faced criticism for their perceived hesitation in addressing the wreck over the years. A 2004 investigation by New Scientist highlighted that while the bombs are watertight, the fuses are not. If海水 penetrates the cargo hold, a single compromised fuse could initiate a massive explosion, a risk officials have reportedly been aware of since 1967.

The potential impact of a blast is severe, potentially shattering every window in Sheerness and launching a mixture of water, debris, and metal 1.8 miles into the air. However, David Alexander of University College London noted in a 2019 paper that the exact level of risk remains a subject of debate.

Michael Fellows, a former Royal Navy expert in submerged explosives, told New Scientist in 2004 that the situation requires a comprehensive survey by those familiar with underwater disposal. Despite previous suggestions to encase the wreck in concrete or sand or to remove the cargo in sections, none of these plans have been implemented.

Locals, who refer to the wreck as “Monty,” have long viewed the site as a memorial and local attraction. Conway reported that the team used specialized diamond wire saws to cut the masts to minimize vibrations near the fragile deck. While the masts themselves were in good condition, the surrounding ship structures were described as being “paper thin.”>

The recovered masts have been transported to the Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent. The government statement did not outline further steps for the remaining explosives, stating only that the site will remain under observation. Meanwhile, flight restrictions over the area remain in effect.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)