Diving survey on the SS Richard Montgomery

Erik C said:
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. :)
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What you may not be aware of is that due to the long time it takes from when munitions are caught up in local fishermen’s nets for the authorities to collect and dispose of them, losing time and a days catch the fishermen for years have been without telling anybody dumping the munitions around and near the wreck. Before a coffer dam could be built these would have to be found disarmed and removed as their condition dating back 1st and 2nd world wars is unknown some being 250-500 Kg or more! Also the vibration of building the coffer dam even without this extra danger could set the lot off!
There is another hazard which is phosphorous that has been coming to surface. This substance as you are probably aware catches fire when exposed to air not a good thing whilst in contact with bombs during pump out stage if it got that far of coffer dam build. Next idea?
 
steadyeddy said:
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.:confused:
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That was then not now... I suppose you have not had a quick, or long read of my website and links from it,which has been up and running regarding the wreck since 2005 and I think this point has been covered.....
I think they would have wanted even more had they known about the mustard gas which was not listed on the manifest for security reasons, something which the government will not confirm or deny under freedom of information request with others (linked from my site)
 
"What you may not be aware of is that due to the long time it takes from when munitions are caught up in local fishermen’s nets for the authorities to collect and dispose of them, losing time and a days catch the fishermen for years have been without telling anybody dumping the munitions around and near the wreck. "



Somebody really ought to ask the people concerned before spouting off this stuff.
Suggest you have a word with somebody over at Leigh or ever better talk to the chamberlain of the Rochester Floating Fishery for some proper information on this subject.
Just out of interest the cruise held each year round the Montgomery is organised by ROFF.
 
oldgit said:
"What you may not be aware of is that due to the long time it takes from when munitions are caught up in local fishermen’s nets for the authorities to collect and dispose of them, losing time and a days catch the fishermen for years have been without telling anybody dumping the munitions around and near the wreck. "
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Somebody really ought to ask the people concerned before spouting off this stuff.
Suggest you have a word with somebody over at Leigh or ever better talk to the chamberlain of the Rochester Floating Fishery for some proper information on this subject.
Just out of interest the cruise held each year round the Montgomery is organised by ROFF.
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I have been told this by Historian Colin Harvey, and locals. It is a well known fact although I do not think any recent dumping has taken place, and you will not get anybody that has any sense to say it was them personally on record! you can contact Colin Harvey and/or get his DVD about the wreck via:
http://www.thewreck.co.uk
 
I am not sure that there is any likelihood of an explosion. My thoughts are the brass and steel trigger/armer for bombs would be
corroded to a solid lump, not likely to work ever again, the iron/steel casings to the bombs would also have corroded away to
such an extent that a lot of the explosives will have been washed away. With current health and safety legislation, do you seriously
think that we would be allowed to sail within a few meters of the wreck, let alone dive to it, if there was any remote likelihood that
it will explode.
 
alruss said:
I am not sure that there is any likelihood of an explosion. My thoughts are the brass and steel trigger/armer for bombs would be
corroded to a solid lump, not likely to work ever again, the iron/steel casings to the bombs would also have corroded away to
such an extent that a lot of the explosives will have been washed away. With current health and safety legislation, do you seriously
think that we would be allowed to sail within a few meters of the wreck, let alone dive to it, if there was any remote likelihood that
it will explode.
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I think you will find your answer here in a freedom of information act reply to mike Barker MBE ( bomb disposal)

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ss_richard_montgomery_reports_re#incoming-308247

.Note: All this stuff is available from links on my site if people would be bothered to look...
 
Hi, I don't know whether any of the facts can be proven or otherwise or even who benefits either way. I do know that the presentation is similar in style to what I recognise as a conspiracy type website.

Just my opinion. Good luck in your endeavours.
 
Im planning to go sailing and visit the wreck this weekend. i was wondering about anchoring nearby overnight.. (outside the bouys) is that allowed / risky, or will I be chased off by the MOD or someone?

I notice in a picture, the red sands forts look near too - how far are they roughly? Could I anchor near them instead, or is that a worse idea? :-)
 
chrisbitz said:
Im planning to go sailing and visit the wreck this weekend. i was wondering about anchoring nearby overnight.. (outside the bouys) is that allowed / risky, or will I be chased off by the MOD or someone?

I notice in a picture, the red sands forts look near too - how far are they roughly? Could I anchor near them instead, or is that a worse idea? :-)
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Tie little fireproof labels to all the parts of your boat like the ones they put on balloons, with your next of kin address and the offer of a prize to the one found farthest away in case it blows up while you are nearby..(grin)
It will also be interesting to see how long you can Moore alongside the buoys before boarded by SAS if you can do it longer than 15 mins daylight 5 mins dark then security is s**t. Make sure they can see your hands at all times as it is expensive to fill in all those .5” holes from the machine gun bullets should you survive that is….
Wind farm and forts too far away :
http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com/images/ss richard montgomery-wreck-29-09-05.htm
and tide too strong for sea anchor so its buoys or maybe standard anchor on sandbank rather you than me….
Chart out of date but gives approximation of depth nearby good luck…..
http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com/images/chart.htm
 
ronangel said:
Tie little fireproof labels to all the parts of your boat like the ones they put on balloons, with your next of kin address and the offer of a prize to the one found farthest away in case it blows up while you are nearby..(grin)
It will also be interesting to see how long you can Moore alongside the buoys before boarded by SAS if you can do it longer than 15 mins daylight 5 mins dark then security is s**t. Make sure they can see your hands at all times as it is expensive to fill in all those .5” holes from the machine gun bullets should you survive that is….
Wind farm and forts too far away :
http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com/images/ss richard montgomery-wreck-29-09-05.htm
and tide too strong for sea anchor so its buoys or maybe standard anchor on sandbank rather you than me….
Chart out of date but gives approximation of depth nearby good luck…..
http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com/images/chart.htm
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Absolutely barking!
 
Lived on Sheppey for my formative years (exile from East London) heard all the theories.

Make a good film perhaps :)

Trips round the wreck for a tanner when I was a kid on the Silver Star, what a treat.
 
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