Crews Remove Three Masts From WWII Wreck Off London

Engineers have completed the removal of three rusting masts from the SS Richard Montgomery, a World War II shipwreck lying on the seabed of the Thames Estuary. The vessel, which sank in 1944, still contains a massive cargo of munitions. Officials confirmed that the structural work is finished, though the explosives themselves remain in place.

The Montgomery was one of approximately 2,700 ships constructed in the United States to support the Allied war effort. It struck a sandbar off Sheerness, located roughly 40 miles from London, in August 1944. The ship was carrying supplies intended for use after the D-Day landings. During salvage attempts, the vessel broke apart and settled into the mud with an estimated 1,500 tons of explosives in its holds.

Recent surveys indicated that the three masts protruding from the water were deteriorating. This deterioration raised concerns that a collapse could strike the cargo and trigger a detonation. Nolan Conway, a naval architect with Resolve Marine Group, stated that the vessel had begun to lean. He noted that some munitions are believed to have pressure fuses, making impact a potential trigger for an explosion.

The primary engineering challenge was cutting the masts without disturbing the wreck. Conway's team constructed a custom lifting frame to raise each mast vertically. They utilized a remotely operated underwater diamond-wire saw to cut through the metal. This method allowed the team to complete the work without sending divers into the water.

Keir Mather, the U.K. maritime minister, informed the House of Commons that the project finished ahead of schedule. The total cost for removing the three masts was just under $13 million. Mather explained that the masts placed a heavy load on the structure, and their removal reduces the risk to the site.

Experts continue to debate the potential consequences of an explosion at the site. Conway said estimates vary widely, ranging from shoreline damage to a tidal wave moving up the Thames. Some assessments suggest the event might be minor, closing only a nearby shipping channel. Despite these uncertainties, officials maintain that the overall probability of an explosion remains low.

The government has maintained an exclusion zone around the wreck for many years. The site lies about 1.5 miles off the Sheerness coast. Mather said the zone will remain in effect to ensure continuous monitoring and control of the area.

The three removed masts are now in the possession of the Historic Dockyard Chatham museum. The institution will display them to recognize the ship's role in the war effort. The Montgomery and its cargo will remain on the seabed, no longer visible from the surface but still subject to ongoing observation.