Engineers Remove Masts From Bomb-Laden WW2 Ship In Thames Estuary

The last of three poles on the wrecked SS Richard Montgomery, a WWII Liberty ship carrying approximately 1,400 tonnes of munitions in its hold, have been removed from the Thames Estuary to prevent potential explosions. The vessel sank near Sheerness in August 1944 after dragging across sandbanks while anchored off Kent and Essex coasts. Although much of its original cargo was evacuated shortly before sinking, engineers with Resolve Marine Group began a major salvage operation earlier this year due to fears that the decaying masts could topple onto remaining explosives. The removal process involved divers working in near-pitch black conditions assisted by sonar imagery while cutting through steel structures and lifting poles into safety using cranes from a barge. Project lead Nolan Conway emphasized the importance of removing the masts before they collapsed, noting that their condition had deteriorated to a dangerous point where failure could trigger detonation.