A 'Doomsday wreck' stuffed with 1,400 tons of WW2 explosives is collapsing, threatening the Thames with a tsunami, a new survey of the ship has revealed.
The SS Richard Montgomery sank in the Thames Estuary in August 1944, coming to rest at a depth of roughly 49ft, about a mile-and-a-half from Sheerness, Kent.
Her masts still loom above the water line and plans are in place to remove them, lest they should collapse on to the wreck and trigger an explosion.
But now a new survey of the vessel has revealed 'concerning' signs of decay in the body of the ship, all observed in the year since the last survey.
The new report warns that 'the deck space near hold three appears to have started to collapse on the port side. This appears to be recent'.
Meanwhile, the 'whole forward section of the wreck', which lies in two halves on the bottom, 'appears to have an increase in lean' of 10 to 15cm.
This growing lean eastwards, the report says, raises a 'a potential concern' about the wreckage 'being undercut as supporting sediment is eroded away'.
The survey also observed that a crack along the second cargo hold had grown 5cm wider and 37cm longer in a year, and was 'significantly buckled' further down.
This gives 'the appearance that the forward part of the wreck is splitting in two', the survey noted, causing the deck above to collapse up to 20cm in a year.
Making matters worse, the back of the ship is 'like the forward section… potentially breaking in two about halfway along its length'.
Here, the report said, a stretch of deck six metres long had collapsed over half a metre in one year.
The revelations were made in the 2023 survey report, which was released last week.
In a statement, the Department for Transport said its priority was to 'ensure the safety of the public and reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery'.
It continued: 'Experts have carried out vital surveying work to the wreckage and, based on their findings, we are revising our initial timeframe for removing the masts in the safest manner possible.
'The aim is to remove the masts as soon as possible should it be possible to establish a safe and effective operational methodology for doing so.'
Rich Lehmann, who chairs the environment committee at Swale Borough Council, which covers Sheerness, said the local authority was keeping a close watch.
He said: 'The deterioration of the wreck is concerning, and the council are monitoring the situation closely.
'Officers are in dialogue with the Department for Transport, who manage the wreck, and other relevant agencies to ensure that all necessary precautions are in place 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's history and holds a special place in the hearts of our residents.
'Any masts or artifacts removed from the wreck should rightfully be brought to Sheppey, and specifically to Sheerness, to preserve this significant chapter of 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 vessel carrying munitions for the allies in the Second World War.
She ran aground on a sandbank and broke her back on it when the tide went out, sinking before all of her cargo could be recovered.
It's feared she still holds enough explosive power to unleash a tidal wave in the Thames, earning her the nickname 'Doomsday wreck'.
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