Engineers have successfully removed the masts from the SS Richard Montgomery, a World War II cargo ship that ran aground in the Thames Estuary in 1944 while carrying approximately 7,000 tonnes of munitions. The operation, initially estimated to cost £9.5 million, was completed ahead of schedule and below forecast costs, according to a junior minister.

The masts were cut free during a complex operation, with a crane supporting the poles as they were sliced off and lifted to safety. The removal of the masts is intended to reduce the risk of them toppling onto the bombs still within the wreck. The SS Richard Montgomery remains in the sea, approximately five miles from Southend-on-Sea, and is visible on clear days.

The masts have been taken to Chatham Historic Dockyard for conservation. This decision follows a campaign to keep the masts in Kent, as they technically remained the property of the United States government. The wreck itself is subject to continuous monitoring and control, with an exclusion zone in place.

Three weathered masts from the SS Richard Montgomery rise from the water in the Thames Estuary. A warning sign attached to one mast reads: "Danger Unexploded Ammunition Do Not Approach Or Board This Wreck". Several seabirds are perched on the structures, with shoreline and buildings visible in the distance, in the photograph from 1 Aug 2022.

Much of the ship's original cargo was removed after it grounded, but the hull and its remaining contents continue to pose a potential hazard. The Ministry of Defence has been responsible for the ongoing management of the wreck.