Full Breakdown
Final Mast Removed from WWII Liberty Ship SS Richard Montgomery
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On a Wednesday in late September 2024, the last of three steel masts protruding from the wreck of the Liberty ship SS Richard Montgomery was cut away and lifted to safety in the Thames Estuary. Project lead Nolan Conway said the timing was critical because the deteriorating structure meant the mast could have collapsed and triggered the explosives still aboard. The operation was carried out from a crane-barge, with divers using sonar imagery to guide the cuts.
Background & Context
SS Richard Montgomery ran aground on the Nore Sandbank on 20 August 1944 while carrying a cargo of munitions. Roughly half of the original 7,000 tonnes was removed after the grounding, but the forward holds still contain an estimated 1,400 tonnes of explosives, according to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The wreck has remained a visible landmark from the Kent and Essex coasts for more than eight decades, and an exclusion zone has been enforced around it.
Data & Statistics
- Original cargo: ~7,000 tonnes of munitions (1944).
- Remaining explosives: ~1,400 tonnes in the forward holds (MCA).
- Contract value for mast removal: £9.5 million (Department for Transport).
- Masts previously removed: two; the final mast removed in September 2024.
Official Statements & Responses
The Department for Transport affirmed that the work does not involve extracting the explosives and that independent risk assessments concluded the mast operation would not increase the danger posed by the remaining ammunition. UK Maritime Minister Keir Mather emphasized that protecting the public remains the priority and that the project aligns with the government’s long-term strategy for managing the site.
On-the-Ground Reports
Divers and engineers from Resolve Marine worked in near-pitch-black conditions, relying on sonar and a purpose-built underwater platform to stabilize the wreck while the mast was cut. Local tour operators reported a surge in bookings ahead of the removal, reflecting the wreck’s cultural significance to nearby communities.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the quantity of explosives remaining (?1,400 tonnes) and the cost of the project (£9.5 million). No published source provides a definitive timeline for the eventual removal of the remaining munitions, leaving that aspect of the long-term risk management plan unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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
- “Everyone knows about this wreck and grew up with it as part of their childhood,” — Nolan Conway
What’s Next
After removal, the three masts will be transported to the Historic Dockyard at Chatham for conservation and eventual public display in Kent, as permitted by the U.S. government. The exclusion zone around the wreck will remain in place, and the UK government continues to monitor the site through regular surveys.