Diving survey on the SS Richard Montgomery

[gravygraham]

I just came across this on a Facebook trawl. Apparently the tonnes of explosives down there runs into the thousands. The ship broke up on a sandbank in a storm in WWII.

Here's a pic I took about four years ago.

 

[oldgit]

The ship has been sitting there quite happly for nearly 70 years it has only been hit twice.
The SS Montgomery normally only comes to the attention of the great british public every 10 years or so in the national press or very 5 years or so in the local press,they tend to have a faster staff turn over ,so it becomes a "new" story more often.
Usually it alternates with the "Scorpions found in Sheerness Dockyard" Shock Horror Exclusive. Expose.....
The official story from the Sub Harbour Master is basically no story,we leave it alone and it leaves us alone.
It is giving a quick once over every year and a more thorough going over every so often.
It is always reassuring when returning home to see the remains of the derricks poking above the waterline,comforting navigation mark,good fishing spot, when you see them you know all is well with the world and you are nearly home.

 

[richlear]

There is a high resolution multibeam survey done every year or couple of years for the MCA - stunning results

 

[alant]

The ship has been sitting there quite happly for nearly 70 years it has only been hit twice.
The SS Montgomery normally only comes to the attention of the great british public every 10 years or so in the national press or very 5 years or so in the local press,they tend to have a faster staff turn over ,so it becomes a "new" story more often.
Usually it alternates with the "Scorpions found in Sheerness Dockyard" Shock Horror Exclusive. Expose.....
The official story from the Sub Harbour Master is basically no story,we leave it alone and it leaves us alone.
It is giving a quick once over every year and a more thorough going over every so often.
It is always reassuring when returning home to see the remains of the derricks poking above the waterline,comforting navigation mark,good fishing spot, when you see them you know all is well with the world and you are nearly home.

"always reassuring when returning home to see the remains of the derricks poking above the waterline,comforting navigation mark,good fishing spot, when you see them you know all is well with the world and you are nearly home."

Plus telling you, that North Kent, hasn't suddenly become South Kent!

 

[ronangel]

Wish it were as simple as that, lots of things happening at the moment for up to date info on the wreck have a look at my site:
http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com
It is only a matter of time

 

[Third mate]

Wish it were as simple as that, lots of things happening at the moment for up to date info on the wreck have a look at my site:
http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com
It is only a matter of time

Suggest you find somewhere else to advertise please

 

[ronangel]

Suggest you find somewhere else to advertise please

Not advertising anything, just pointing people that don’t know to where they can get more information about the wreck as I always do when the matter comes up, and 100% relevant to the post subject and thread. My site and links from it have been there since 2005 to point out this danger.
ron

 

[oldgit]

As a previous long term term resident of Sheppey and with family still living there,plus having been at meeting last week with the deputy harbour master when this subject came up,would just like to point to all interested parties outside the area that 99.9% of local residents,sailors/boaters/commercial fisherman and sealife have heard all these conspirarcy tales before and have given them the consideration they deserve.
Look forward to this summer when something like 70 odd boats will be sailing round the wreck on our Admiral of the River Cruise.

 

[davidej]

It is only a matter of time

What is only a matter of time?

You arn't trying to scare us are you?

 

[ronangel]

What is only a matter of time?

You arn't trying to scare us are you?

No but this might.....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/avi...te.html#ooid=I5dXVtNzoqTUde2tidv1st9Hxb9u8odn

 

[davidej]

I think the Richard Montgomery is as likely to blow-up as Boris is to get his airport..................


which is absolutely zero.

 

[Erik C]

Get a Dutch dredging company to cover the wreck with 20 mt. of sand and blow it up, it might still cause some damage but at least it's over and done with without any casualties. It would also make some great video.

 

[ronangel]

Get a Dutch dredging company to cover the wreck with 20 mt. of sand and blow it up, it might still cause some damage but at least it's over and done with without any casualties. It would also make some great video.

Brilliant idea except for one flaw… this would be an underwater explosion and tamping would not work as already tamped from all sides by water. The water would be less compressible than the sand which would go straight up and in all directions
But the main problem which still exists is the “seaquake” (under water earthquake) which would shake and shatter every gas, sewer, water, and electricity main on the island and bring down many houses, apart that is from the ensuing tsunami mini tidal wave from the pressure and suction of the blast.
what is not realised by many is the size of the wreck, there is enough high explosives known to be remaining aboard to cover half the size of a football pitch to a height of about 3 metres plus! So its back to the drawing board then….

 

[Robg71]

nothing wrong with a team of divers to clear it the hard way....
unless they have something to hide...

 

[oldgit]

"No but this might....."

Cripes that will have the denizens of the Royal Shires quaking in their hunting pinks....might even take their minds off the mansion tax for few brief moments.
The Sheppey Gazette will however still be concentrating of the possible chance of some employment if the go ahead is given to fabricate windmills in Sheerness Docks.

 

[henryf]

Am I missing something?

It's nowhere near the Solent. What's all the fuss about


On a slight thread drift have you ever heard anything so silly as the proposal to rebuild Heathrow there? The impact on people, the environment through extra journeys and the construction of commercial space necessary to support Heathrow on Sea would be almost incalculable. Heathrow for all it's sins is central to a good many people and accessible by a number of means. There is no easy way to get to that site without going through one of a few pinch points.

Some might argue a construction opportunity, the reality is a chosen few profit as they did with the Olympic stadium. I know companies prevented from working on the site despite existing suppliers wanting them to and their being a lot cheaper than the incumbent organisations.

And before I get stoned my initial comment was of course firmly in cheek. I have fond memories of the area. A former childhood sweetheart dumped me whilst holidaying around Frinton-on-Sea. I had to share a tent with her for the rest of the trip

Henry

 

[steadyeddy]

Diving survey on the SS Montgomery

Ronangle i believe you have missed a lot of the story out The goverment requested the dockers to unload the ship and they demarded £16 per hour so the powers refused to pay sky high wages.

 

[Erik C]

Brilliant idea except for one flaw… this would be an underwater explosion and tamping would not work as already tamped from all sides by water. The water would be less compressible than the sand which would go straight up and in all directions
But the main problem which still exists is the “seaquake” (under water earthquake) which would shake and shatter every gas, sewer, water, and electricity main on the island and bring down many houses, apart that is from the ensuing tsunami mini tidal wave from the pressure and suction of the blast.
what is not realised by many is the size of the wreck, there is enough high explosives known to be remaining aboard to cover half the size of a football pitch to a height of about 3 metres plus! So its back to the drawing board then….

Yes the water would be a problem. So how about this, build two cofferdams around the ship, an inner one and a big outer one and pump them dry. Now you fill the inner one with a whole lot of sand on top of the ship to keep bits from flying away. Then you fill the second one with sand as well to act as a compressible buffer between the explosion and the water. That should work and still make great video.

 

[ronangel]

And before I get stoned my initial comment was of course firmly in cheek. I have fond memories of the area. A former childhood sweetheart dumped me whilst holidaying around Frinton-on-Sea. I had to share a tent with her for the rest of the trip

more fool you, I would have left her there after 24 hours to finish the holiday alone. after asking her nicely to reconsider or cut holiday short. hope you found your true love....

Henry [/QUOTE]

 

[david_bagshaw]

Get a Dutch dredging company to cover the wreck with 20 mt. of sand and blow it up, it might still cause some damage but at least it's over and done with without any casualties. It would also make some great video.

neat idea, though wouldnt the weight of the sand bring down the decks, banging the munitions about..................!!!!!!!!