Delicate operation carried out on explosives-packed WWII shipwreck
Summary
A rusty World War II shipwreck carrying large amounts of explosives was recently made safer by removing its three tall masts, which were collapsing and threatening to cause an explosion. The shipwreck remains on the riverbed near Sheerness, England, and experts will keep watching it to prevent any future dangers.Key Facts
- The shipwreck is the SS Richard Montgomery, a U.S. Liberty ship from World War II.
- It sank in 1944 near Sheerness, England, carrying about 1,500 tons of explosives.
- The ship’s three masts were rusting and starting to collapse, raising concerns they could trigger an explosion.
- A marine salvage company safely removed all three masts using special equipment to avoid disturbing the explosives.
- The operation was finished ahead of schedule and cost just under $13 million.
- The British government keeps an exclusion zone around the wreck to keep people away.
- Experts say removing the explosives would be very risky, so they remain inside the ship.
- The risk of explosion is currently considered low, but the site will be continuously monitored.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
