Global maritime services company Resolve Marine has released photos showing the commencement of operations to remove the masts from the wreck of the World War II-era vessel “SS Richard Montgomery.”
Sea-news.az reports that the ship, which sank in the Thames Estuary in August 1944, was carrying munitions for Allied forces. Approximately 1,400 tons of explosives are currently estimated to remain within the wreckage. The vessel sank during a storm approximately 80 kilometers east of London.
Following six years of planning and continuous monitoring, the UK Department for Transport awarded the mast removal contract to Resolve Marine in April 2026. The intervention was prompted by concerns that as the wreck deteriorates, the structural integrity of its three steel masts is compromising, posing a risk that they could collapse and trigger a major explosion.
Under strict safety protocols, specialists and divers are cutting and removing the vessel’s three steel masts. The primary objective of the operation is to preserve the stability of the wreck while ensuring the safety of the operational crew, nearby coastal communities, and maritime traffic.
The UK government stated that once safely retrieved, the masts will be placed on public display.
