SAFETY work on a Second World War shipwreck full of explosives has been delayed after surveyors found it was surrounded by 18 “metallic objects”.

The SS Richard Montgomery ran aground in 1944 while carrying 1,400 tonnes of munitions and has been wrecked on the Isle of Sheppey ever since.

With the explosives still live, there are fears the ship’s masts could fall on to the cargo, detonate the munitions and cause a tidal surge towards the Essex shoreline.

The Government is planning to remove the masts and safety work was initially scheduled for 2022 before being delayed.

Echo: Wrecked – the SS Richard Montgomery has been partly submerged since 1944Wrecked – the SS Richard Montgomery has been partly submerged since 1944 (Image: Newsquest)

Works on dismantling parts of the SS Richard Montgomery may not begin until next year as experts “update their strategy”, a spokesman for the Department for Transport said.

He said: “Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery.

“We commissioned experts to carry out vital surveying work to the wreckage.

“Based on their findings, we are revising our initial timeframe and are updating our strategy to remove the ship's masts in the safest manner possible.”

It is not known exactly what the 18 objects surrounding the ship are because they are submerged in river mud, but it now means experts are looking for a different way to remove the ship’s masts.

A boat tour operator told the Echo in December removing the masts would be “a massive blow” because of the level of interest shown in the wreckage by visitors.

Echo: Abandoned – attempts were made to unload the cargo from the ship shortly after the hull cracked openAbandoned – attempts were made to unload the cargo from the ship shortly after the hull cracked open (Image: Newsquest)

The extent to which the masts are corroding is tracked by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which produced a survey report produced by in 2022, using laser scan data.

Though the masts were not shown to have deteriorated between 2021 and 2022, the SS Richard Montgomery is monitored and subject to an exclusion zone to prevent any nearby vessels disturbing the munitions.

The 2022 Government report read: “Although the wreck is thought to be stable if left undisturbed, it is routinely monitored.

“Regular surveys of the wreck are undertaken to provide information on its condition, to identify any changes or deterioration and to inform future management strategy.”