Masts Era Ends

A LEIGH boat operator has described the imminent removal of the masts from the SS Richard Montgomery as devastating.
The American cargo ship has been an eerie reminder of the Second World War since it sank in the Thames Estuary in 1944 after running aground and breaking apart.
For more than eight decades, its ghostly masts have served as a landmark and a reminder of the “ship full of bombs” that lies beneath the water.
Lying 1.5 miles off Sheerness in Kent, it is surrounded by an exclusion zone and has been subject to continuous monitoring and extensive technical assessment since it sank.
Angus Browne, owner of Browne’s Thames Estuary Boat Trips, said the planned removal is devastating, as the ship’s masts are a highlight of his maritime history tours.
Mr Browne told reporters: “I am genuinely devastated by the news.
“The SS Richard Montgomery is one of the most iconic maritime landmarks on the Thames Estuary and has been a huge part of the history, heritage and identity of our local coastline for decades.”
He said the wreck and its distinctive masts have been a major attraction for his boat trips and described the decision as a significant disappointment for his business.
The three distinctive masts are due to be cut down from September as part of a major safety project.
After confirmation of the removal was announced in April this year, it has since been decided that the masts, once removed, will be displayed somewhere in Kent for the benefit of local heritage and tourism.
A DfT spokesperson said: “We have now appointed a leading salvage company to undertake the mast removal project for the SS Richard Montgomery.”
Although the risk is believed to be extremely remote, some claim the ship, which still contains 1,400 tonnes of wartime explosives, poses a threat to the surrounding area.
A statement released by the DfT this week added: “The operation will involve constructing an underwater platform to allow specialist maritime engineers to cut the three masts over the course of several weeks.
“Once removed, the masts will be sent to The Historic Dockyard Chatham – which is home to specialist restoration facilities – where they can be properly preserved.”
Mr Browne said he expects a surge in interest in his SS Richard Montgomery tours before the work begins, as history enthusiasts, photographers and tourists seek a final glimpse of the masts.
He added that while his tours will continue after the removal because of the wreck’s historical significance, “it simply won’t be the same without the masts.”
Picture: The masts & Angus Browne, owner of Brownes Thames Estuary Boat Trips
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