Explosive-laden WWII Thames shipwreck 'to have masts removed' over fears vessel is 'sitting duck' for drone attack
The SS Richard Montgomery has been beached along the Thames Estuary since 1944 and contains around 1,400 tons of explosives and could pose a tsunami risk.
The wreck of a WWII munitions ship which remains filled with explosives is set to have its masts removed to protect the UK against possible drone attacks.
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The Department for Transport (DfT) has set aside £9.5m to fund the removal of the masts of the SS Richard Montgomery - the only parts still visible above the water.
The ship ran aground in the Thames Estuary near Sheerness, Kent, in 1944 and is thought to contain around 1,400 tons of explosives.
The Ministry of Defence warned that if a mast collapses it may detonate an explosion that could launch a 3,000-metre column of debris and trigger a five-metre tsunami.
Read more: Ship packed with 20,000 tonnes of explosive cargo spotted floating off the coast of Kent
The DfT says annual condition surveys have not indicated the risk of the masts collapsing has increased, but in June last year, pilots and drone operators were banned from flying within a one nautical mile radius of the wreckage of the SS Montgomery for “reasons of public safety.”
Speaking exclusively to LBC last year, Professor David Alexander, an expert in emergency planning and risk management, said the risk was not only of accidental detonation, but potentially of deliberate targeting.
He described the shipwreck as a "sitting duck", saying "we're entering a new age of conflict. Russia has been linked to attacks on undersea cables and pipelines. The Montgomery is a perfect hybrid warfare target: high impact, low cost, and plausibly deniable.”
Defence Secretary John Healey revealed today that the UK had spent a month monitoring three Russian military submarines as they travelled close to vital infrastructure in the North Atlantic.
The Defence Secretary says there is “no evidence that there has been any damage to UK cables and pipelines” by the submarines.
Mr Healey said the UK has seen a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters, and announced an additional £100m investment to support submarine hunting aircraft to protect critical underwater infrastructure.
In October, an ally of Vladimir Putin, Dr Andrey Sidorov, reportedly told Russian state TV that Moscow should target the SS Montgomery.
The government announced its intention to remove the ship's masts six years ago, but the work has been delayed repeatedly. The DfT has now awarded Resolve Salvage and Fire (Europe) the multi-million pound contract.
Kevin McKenna, the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has called for one of the masts to be kept on the island. “For many people on Sheppey, the Montgomery masts are far more than wreckage, they’re a cherished landmark.”
He added: “I fully support their safe removal and believe it’s vital that part of this iconic structure is preserved for future generations.”
A spokesman for the department said: "Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and to reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery."