Urgent warning for ‘Doomsday wreck’ at bottom of Thames: SS Richard Montgomery deteriorating faster than feared – and could trigger tsunami towards London if it explodes, report warns

A ‘doomsday wreck’ carrying 1,400 tonnes of World War II explosives is collapsing and threatening to trigger a tsunami in the Thames, new research into the ship has revealed.

The SS Richard Montgomery sank in the Thames Estuary in August 1944, coming to rest in a depth of approximately 45 feet (14 m), about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from Sheerness, Kent.

Her masts still protrude above the waterline and there are plans to remove them to prevent them falling onto the wreck and causing an explosion.

But now a new survey of the ship has revealed ‘worrying’ signs of decay in the ship’s hull, all of which were observed in the year since the last survey.

The new report warns that ‘the deck space at hold three on the port side appears to have collapsed. This appears to be recent’.

Meanwhile, it appears that the ‘entire forward part of the wreck’, which lies in two halves on the bottom, has ‘an increase in slope’ of 10 to 15 cm.

This increasing eastward tilt, the report states, raises “potential concerns” that the wreck “may be undermined as supporting sediment erodes away.”

The investigation also found that a crack in the second cargo hold had widened by 5cm and lengthened by 37cm in a year and had ‘significantly warped’ further down.

This gives “the impression that the forward part of the wreck is splitting in two,” the study said, causing the deck above to collapse by up to 20cm in a single year.

What makes matters worse is that the rear of the ship is “just like the forward section… and could potentially break in two halfway along its length.”

Here, the report said, a six-metre-long section of deck had collapsed more than half a metre in one year.

These revelations were made in the 2023 research report, which was published last week.

In a statement, the Department for Transport said its priority was to “ensure the safety of the public and mitigate any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery”.

The report continues: ‘Experts have conducted significant research into the wreck and based on their findings we are revising our original timetable for removing the masts as safely as possible.

“The goal is to remove the masts as quickly as possible, if there is a safe and effective operational methodology for doing so.”

Rich Lehmann, chairman of the environment committee at Swale Borough Council, which includes Sheerness, said the local authority was closely monitoring the situation.

He said: ‘The condition of the wreck is worrying and the council is closely monitoring the situation.

‘Officers are in consultation with the Department for Transport, which manages the wreck, and other relevant agencies to ensure all necessary precautions are taken to mitigate any potential risks.

“The safety of our community and the protection of our marine environment remain our top priorities.”

He continued: ‘The SS Richard Montgomery is an integral part of Sheerness’ history and holds a special place in the hearts of our residents.

‘All masts and artefacts removed from the wreck should rightly be brought to Sheppey and in particular Sheerness to preserve this important chapter in our island’s history.

“The wreck is not only a historical landmark, but also a beloved symbol of our community’s resilience and heritage.”

The SS Richard Montgomery was an American ship that transported ammunition for the Allies during World War II.

As the tide went out, the ship ran aground on a sandbank and broke her back. The ship sank before all of her cargo could be salvaged.

It is feared that she still has enough explosive power to cause a tidal wave in the Thames, earning her the nickname ‘Doomsday wreck’.