A ‘doomsday wreck’ full of explosives from World War II could be edging closer to collapse, according to a new survey.
The SS Richard Montgomery, used by the US for carrying cargo of munitions during World War II, has been stuck at the bottom of the River Thames Estuary since August 1944.
On route to Cherbourg, France, the 441ft-long ship broke in half while carrying 7,000 tons of explosives, and its remains are located around 1.5 miles from the town of Sheerness, Kent.
Around 1,400 tons of bombs remain onboard as the wreck continues to pose a potential hazard if the ship’s masts fall and ignite the cargo.
The Department for Transport has since implemented a no-fly zone at the wreck site and has banned civilian and non-emergency aviation from the skies overhead.
New SS Richard Montgomery study
A new study of the Montgomery has suggested that the hull itself is deteriorating and that the front half of the ship, which broke in two when it sank, is tipping over at a gradual rate.
The second cargo hold showed more decay and the lower starboard side has become ‘significantly buckled’.
This has caused part of the deck above to start collapsing into the hold, with the hatch supports in this area dropping by up to 17cm in a year.
The survey says: “Like the forward section, the rear section is hogging and potentially breaking in two about halfway along its length. This area was left unsupported when the ship broke in two back in 1944.
“Consequently, it has been badly affected by wave and current action and is steadily collapsing and falling into the gap between the two halves of the vessel.”
Although the report warns: “The degree to which the bow and stern may be being undercut as the supporting sediment is eroded away is a potential concern.”
Tsunami warning
The Royal Military College of Science said in 1970 that if the whole explosive cache detonated at once, it would unleash a five-metre tsunami.
It could cause a column of water and debris around 3,000 metres high, engulfing nearby Sheerness.
What the Department for Transport has said
The Department for Transport, the ministry responsible for looking after the wreck, says the Montgomery’s condition remains ‘stable’.
A spokesperson said: “Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and to reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery. The condition of the wreck remains stable, and experts are continuing to monitor the site.
“As part of their ongoing monitoring, they have updated advice on how authorities can further minimise risk. They have recommended that pilots and operators do not fly in a limited area around and above the site as specified by the Civil Aviation Authority.”
