Thames Estuary

The masts of the SS Richard Montgomery, the Second World War munitions ship wrecked off Sheerness in the Thames estuary, are being removed. Pictures show a crane attached to the final mast ahead of its removal from the wreck, which still holds thousands of tonnes of unstable explosives. The operation aims to reduce the risk of an accidental detonation near populated areas.

Engineers have removed the masts from the SS Richard Montgomery, a wrecked Second World War Liberty ship lying off Sheerness in the Thames Estuary. The vessel sank in 1944 while carrying thousands of tonnes of explosives, and authorities have long warned it could still detonate. The mast removal is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the risk of an accidental explosion, drawing renewed attention to the ship's dangerous cargo.