Ticking time bomb in the London Thames- SS Richard Monty

The SS Richard Montgomery was a US Liberty ship, 7,146 gross tons. She was built in 1943 by the St. John's River Ship Building Company of Jacksonville, Florida, and was one of 2,700 of these mass-produced vessels built to carry vital supplies for the war effort.

In August 1944, the ship was loaded with a cargo of some 7,000 tons of munition and joined the convoy bound for the UK and then onto Cherbourg. On arrival in the thames estuary, the vessel was direct to anchor in the Great Nor anchorage off Sheerness. The ship was to await the formation of a convoy to continue the journey across the channel.

However, on the 20th of August 1944, she dragged her anchor in the shallow water and grounded on the Sangbank running east from the Ilse of grain approximately 250 m north of the Midway approach channel. The vessel grounded on the crest of the sandbank.

Intensive efforts began to unload her cargo. Unfortunately, the next day, a crack appeared in the hull and the forward end began to flood. The salvage effort continued until the 25th of September, by which time approximately half of the cargo had been successfully removed. The salvage effort had been abandoned when the vessel finally flooded completely.

The wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery remains on the sandbank where she sank. The wreck lies across the tide close to the Medway approach channel and her masts are clearly visible above the water at all states of tide. There are still approximately 1,400 tons of explosive contained within the forward holds.

The wreck of the SS Montgomery has been subject to regular surveys since grounding. A variety of methods being used to monitor the site. While the risk of major explosion is believed to be remote, it is considered prudent to monitor the condition of the wreck. Surveys are carried out on a regular basis to ensure any changes to the wreck or its immediate environment are discovered quickly. It is clear from the result of the surveys that the hull is subject to prevailing environment conditions and is showing evidence of gradual deterioration. However, the wreck is considered to be in a stable condition.

Some experts believe if it was to explode, the explosion could generate a massive wave up to 40 ft high, potentially devastating nearby Sheerness, an impact in an area stretching from Margate to central London.