Divers work to cut the mast of a WWII wreck threatening a Thames riverside town
A World War II shipwreck in the Thames estuary, still laden with explosives, is being dismantled to prevent its collapse onto a nearby town.
The SS Richard Montgomery, a US Liberty-class ship that sank on a sandbank in the Thames estuary during 1944, remains a hazardous wreck because its cargo of assorted shells and bombs has never been removed. Over the decades, tidal forces and corrosion have weakened the hull, and the ship’s mast still protrudes above the water’s surface. Authorities fear that the mast could eventually break off and strike the explosive cargo, endangering the nearby town of Sheerness.
To mitigate this risk, a team of divers is currently cutting the mast below the waterline, with the intention of preserving the wreck’s components for future museum display. The effort reflects ongoing concerns about the potential impact of an accidental explosion on the surrounding community.
Why it matters
Preventing a collapse of the wreck could avert a major explosion near a populated area.
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