WWII boat that sank off Kent carrying 1,400 tons of munitions needs urgent work carrying out on it to stop devastating explosion that could send a 4ft tidal wave surging down the Thames
- The SS Richard Montgomery ran aground in August 1944 off the coast of Kent
- The Liberty ship was carrying 7,000 tonnes of munitions when it began to sink
- Stevedores managed to remove 5,600 tonnes of munitions before it sank
- Experts fear the vessel’s masts are putting too much stress on its hull
A World War II wreck carrying 1,400 tonnes of munitions which sank off the coast of Kent in 1944 requires urgent work to prevent further damage to its hull leading to a potentially devastating explosion.
The SS Richard Montgomery ran aground in August 1944 and despite frantic attempts to remove it’s deadly cargo, its hull cracked and sank off Medway in Kent.
It is feared the remaining munitions on board could result in a 1.4 kiloton explosion – leading to a four-foot tidal wave in the Thames estuary.
Marine experts fear the masts of the SS Richard Montgomery, which is carrying 1,400 tonnes of munitions could cause the hull to collapse risking a potential explosion
The SS Richard Montgomery ran aground off the Kent coast in August 1944 while carrying 7,000 tonnes of munitions
Recent surveys of the wreck said the ship’s masts are putting too much strain on the hull which is cracking apart – increasing the risk of explosion
Engineers have already removed much of the vessel’s rigging and railings to reduce stress on the rest of the hull. Now the Marine and Coastguard agency is seeking a contractor to reduce the height of the mast even further
The Maritime and Coastguard agency has been monitoring the wreck – including the vessel’s masks which are above the waterline.
Recent surveys have shown cracks in the vessel’s hull have been increasing and it is feared a major failure in the structure could lead to a possible explosion.
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency: ‘Ongoing monitoring and assessment of the SS Richard Montgomery has identified that the masts may be placing undue strain on the rest of the vessel structure.
‘In light of this, the decision has been made to seek to reduce the height of the masts in order to maintain the integrity of hull and minimise the likelihood of structural collapse of the vessel.
Previous surveys have shown the vessel’s back has already broken. The final 1,400 tonnes of munitions are located in the forward hold
Marine engineers are increasingly concerned about the safety of the remaining munitions
‘This is part of the ongoing strategy to ensure that the risks posed by the vessel are suitably monitored, assessed and managed.’
Tendering for the highly specialised contract is expected to close on August 2, while the remedial work is expected to take place in 2021.
According to the MCA: ‘While the risk of a major explosion is believed to be remote, it is considered prudent to monitor the condition of the wreck.
‘Surveys are carried out by the MCA on a regular basis to ensure that any changes to the wreck, or its immediate environment, are discovered quickly.
‘It is clear from the results of these surveys that the hull is subject to the prevailing environmental conditions and is showing evidence of gradual deterioration, however, the wreck is considered to be in a stable condition.’
The vessel is protected by a circle of buoys to warn shipping to stay away from the wreck, while the area is closely monitored by radar around the clock from nearby Medway Port.
The operations room of Medway Port is also within sight of the wreck.
What is the SS Montgomery and why is it dangerous?
The SS Richard Montgomery was a US Liberty Ship built in 1943 to transport cargo across the Atlantic
The 7,200-tonne vessel safely crossed the Atlantic on convoy HX-301 without incident and was ordered to anchor off Sheerness.
The vessel was carrying some 7,000 tonnes of munitions and it was due to carry on to Cherbourg to unload its cargo.
However, on August 20, 1944, the Montgomery dragged her anchor and ran aground on a sandbank around 250 yards from the Medway Approach Channel.
The SS Richard Montgomery, pictured, sank in 1944 off the coast of Kent carrying 7,000 tonnes of munitions that were due to be shipped to Cherbourg for invasion of Europe
The SS Richard Montgomery dragged its anchor on August 20, 1944 and ran aground on a sandbank before her hull cracked and started flooding
A major salvage operation was launched to unload the vessel’s deadly cargo although, within 24 hours cracks began appearing across the hull and the forward areas began flooding.
By September 25, the salvage operation had to be abandoned after the entire vessel flooded.
The Richard Montgomery was one of 2,700 Liberty ships built during the war.