Masts from explosives-packed ship taken to museum

Three masts removed from a bomb-laden shipwreck in the Thames Estuary have been successfully taken to a maritime museum.

The poles, delicately removed from the SS Richard Montgomery in September, will be kept at the Historic Dockyard Chatham.

The masts had been visible from the Essex and Kent coasts since the doomed vessel sank with 1,400 tonnes of explosives onboard in 1944.

Junior transport minister, Kier Mather said removing the masts had reduced the risk of them toppling on to and detonating the bombs.

"As the vessel has aged, the masts continued to place significant load on the structure," he said in a written statement to Parliament.

"Their removal has reduced that risk and supports the long-term safe management of the site."

Engineers cut the masts free during a daring project, initially estimated to cost £9.5m. A crane supported the poles as they were sliced off and lifted to safety.

Mather said despite the "unique risk and a challenging site", the project was completed ahead of schedule and below forecast costs.

The BBC has asked the Department for Transport for details of the final costs.

SS Montgomery was loaded with 7,000 tonnes of munitions in 1944 and directed to anchor off Sheerness, Kent, but grounded on a sandbank.

Much of the cargo was removed, but the wreck remains in the sea and is visible about five miles away (8km) in Southend-on-Sea on a clear day.

Chatham Historic Dockyard will conserve the masts, following a campaign for them to stay in Kent, as they technically remained property of the US government.

The wreck remains subject to continuous monitoring and control via the exclusion zone in place.

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