SS Richard Montgomery.... erm, no!

[Timpo]

OK, I'd like to try to see it, but I'll give it a miss.......
But, if anyone has any stories of visiting the actual or as near as the wreck site, sure I'd like to hear them.

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

I lived 2 miles away from it for 30 years, can easily see the masts at low tide.

The coast guard have to rush out and 'rescue' a dingy or two every year that stray to close!

 

[harrybo1]

OK, I'd like to try to see it, but I'll give it a miss.......
But, if anyone has any stories of visiting the actual or as near as the wreck site, sure I'd like to hear them.

There is nothing to see apart from mast at low tide,the urban rumor is if it were to go bang it would flood canvey an take out all the windows along southend seafront its fenced of so you cant get near it ever since i can rember there has been talk of getting rid of it.

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Previously experts have said if the wreck exploded it would cause a metre-high tidal wave.

In August 2004 a report in the New Scientist magazine said if the ship exploded it would be one of the biggest non-nuclear blasts ever and would devastate the port of Sheerness.

As long ago as 1970, government tests on the site suggested a blast would hurl a 1,000ft wide column of water, mud, metal and munitions almost 10,000ft into the air.


A week before the Olympics ... Thatcher dies and this goes up, what are the chances?

 

[RD.]

US Liberty Ship - SS Richard Montgomery

I have sailed past the wreck several times onboard various vessels from my Hunter 19 to a 48ft Stay Sail Schooner.

The wreck is sat on a mud bank in the Thames Estuary and the mud bank is at the point where both the River Thames and River Medway meet, for the want of a better description, imagine a triangular shaped mud bank between to dividing rivers.

If sailing up the River Thames, the wreck is to Port (left) and if sailing up the River Medway the wreck is to Starboard (right).

I haven't sailed in this area since about 1999 and if I recall the wreck is well marked with four yellow buoys and its upper structure (masts) are visible.
At Low Water Springs more of the wreck is exposed and conversely at High Water Springs only the very tops of masts are exposed.

The Thames Estuary is very busy with shipping, with cargo and container ships, tankers, tugs and unfortunately the occasional fool in a dinghy.

Taking in to consideration the vast amount of mud banks, the very busy shipping which approach surprisingly rapidly from both rivers and those ships heading up rivers, strong tides and the wreck, it is not a place to dither, mess around and make mistakes.

The wreck still has it cargo of explosive ordinance and it is rumoured that if it explodes, windows will shatter in both Kent and Essex.

Altough "Power" gives way to "Sail" - In the Thames Estuary it is wise and safer for a sailor to give way to ships who are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre in a shipping channel due to their draft.

The wreck is eerie but interesting and certainly not a place to mess around and loiter.
Sheerness with its RoRos, on the Isle Of Sheppy is the best place to view the wreck from land, as it is at the mouth to the River Medway.

Regards,

Richard.