Salvage Work Begins on WWII ‘Time Bomb’ Wreck in Thames Estuary

More than 80 years after the SS Richard Montgomery sank in the Thames Estuary with roughly 1,400 tons of explosives still aboard, marine contractors have begun one of the most delicate interventions yet on the notorious World War II wreck.

Florida-based Resolve Marine has started work to remove the Liberty ship’s three remaining steel masts, which still rise above the water near Sheerness, Kent. Engineers and divers will cut and lift the structures under closely controlled conditions intended to avoid disturbing the deteriorating wreck and its explosive cargo. SSRM press release 0926_2

The work marks a significant step in the UK government’s long-running effort to reduce risks associated with the wreck without attempting to remove its remaining munitions.

The Richard Montgomery ran aground on a sandbank in August 1944 while carrying thousands of tons of ammunition for Allied forces in Europe. Salvage crews removed roughly half of the cargo before the hull flooded and broke apart, forcing the operation to be abandoned. About 1,400 tons of explosives remain inside the forward holds today, according to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. GOV.UK

The wreck sits close to the Medway Approach Channel and is surrounded by a legally enforced exclusion zone.

Removing the masts

The UK government announced the mast-removal project in July, saying the operation would involve construction of an underwater working platform from which specialists could dismantle the three structures below sea level. The £9.5 million project followed years of surveys, engineering studies and explosives-risk assessments. 

Removing the masts has been under consideration for years because their weight places additional strain on the wreck’s aging deck structure. The MCA has said reducing that load would also eliminate the possibility that a mast could eventually collapse into one of the cargo holds. 

Resolve Marine said the operation was developed following technical assessments and independent expert review focused on maintaining the wreck’s stability and protecting workers, nearby communities and maritime traffic. SSRM press release 0926_2

“The removal of the SS Richard Montgomery’s masts is a unique and highly specialized marine engineering project that requires meticulous planning, rigorous risk management and exceptional technical expertise,” Resolve Marine Director of Projects Sam Adams said. SSRM press release 0926_2

UK officials have stressed that the work does not involve removing the explosives themselves. Independent assessments concluded the mast operation could proceed without increasing the risk posed by the ammunition remaining aboard, according to the Department for Transport. 

Once removed, the masts are expected to be taken to the Historic Dockyard Chatham for conservation before eventually going on public display in Kent. 

A wreck under constant watch

The Richard Montgomery has long been among Britain’s most closely monitored wrecks.

Annual surveys have documented the ship’s continuing structural deterioration, including movement of the forward section and localized deck collapse. The MCA maintains an archive of survey reports dating back decades and says the government’s broader strategy is aimed at progressively reducing the risks posed by the wreck. 

Despite its dramatic reputation — and occasional predictions about the potential consequences of a large explosion — authorities continue to describe the likelihood of a major detonation as remote.

The exclusion zone around the wreck will remain in place after the masts are removed.

Resolve Marine said the operation forms part of the UK government’s longer-term management strategy for the site, preserving a piece of Anglo-American maritime history while addressing one of the most unusual salvage challenges still lingering from World War II.

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