Story perspectives

Resolve Marine begins removing SS Richard Montgomery masts

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 10:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Resolve Marine began removing the SS Richard Montgomery’s three masts in the Thames Estuary.
The £9.5 million project, announced in July, aims to reduce deck load.
Independent assessments say removal will not raise risk from the 1,400 tons of explosives.
Masts will go to Historic Dockyard Chatham for conservation and public display.
The exclusion zone will remain after mast work finishes.

History

Historical Context

In August 1944 the Liberty ship SS Richard Montgomery hit a mine in the Thames Estuary, carrying 6,127 tons of munitions that left about 1,400 tons of explosives on the wreck. Designated dangerous under the 1973 Protection of Wrecks Act, the Ministry of Defence and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have monitored it, and Resolve Marine’s £9.5 million mast-removal effort mirrors the 1970s clearance operations.

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Story summary

Resolve Marine began removing the SS Richard Montgomery’s three masts in the Thames Estuary.
The £9.5 million project, announced in July, aims to reduce deck load.
Independent assessments say removal will not raise risk from the 1,400 tons of explosives.
Masts will go to Historic Dockyard Chatham for conservation and public display.
The exclusion zone will remain after mast work finishes.

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