US backs plans for SS Monty masts to remain in UK

Hopes that the masts from a World War Two shipwreck can be kept in the UK after their removal from the wreckage have been backed by the US.

The US Liberty ship, the SS Richard Montgomery, sank off the Kent coast with 1,400 tonnes of explosives on board after running aground in 1944.

Safety procedures need to be carried out on the vessel, known as the SS Monty, before anything breaks off and falls on to its cargo below, detonating it.

After Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna called for a mast to be kept in a museum, US ambassador Warren Stephens said the US government welcomed efforts to honour the memory and keep the masts in the UK for public display.

McKenna had said that the masts were "far more than wreckage", describing them as "a cherished landmark linked to an extraordinary wartime story".

He said that he was "delighted" by the development, adding: "This is a major victory for our campaign and for everyone who signed the petition in support of preserving this important part of our island's heritage."

McKenna said that the "iconic" structures had been part of Sheppey's story for generations.

"'I'm proud that future generations will be able to see them, learn from them and celebrate their place in our history," he added.

Liberty ships were emergency cargo vessels supplied by the USA during World War Two. More than 2,700 of the vessels were built in 18 shipyards.

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) said they were constructed at speed from welded sections on a mass production basis, while the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they carried "vital supplies for the war effort".

The SS Richard Montgomery was loaded with 7,000 tonnes of munitions in August 1944 and was directed to anchor off Sheerness.

However, on 20 August, it dragged its anchor, grounded on a sandbank and began to flood after the hull cracked.

Much of the cargo was removed, but the wreck remains on the sandbank with its masts visible at all tides and about 1,400 tonnes of explosives still in the forward holds.

In his letter, Stephens wrote: "As a student of history and our countries' great alliance and joint sacrifice in World War Two, I was delighted to learn about the story of the Monty."

He said the wreck remains under the purview of the US Department of Transportation, with the Maritime Administration finalising an agreement with the UK Department for Transport on removing the masts.

Work to remove the masts under a £9.5m deal was announced in 2020 and planned for 2022 but was delayed.

The UK government says the condition of the wreck remains stable, with experts monitoring the site.

A contractor has been chosen to undertake removal of the masts and a flying restriction zone remains in place above the area.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.