In this episode of Ship Talk, Sal Mercogliano teams up with maritime pilot Bart Gonnissen to break down the incredible history and looming hazard of the SS Richard Montgomery—frequently referred to as the "Doomsday Wreck." Stranded since August 1944 in the Thames Estuary just 30 miles from London, this World War II Liberty ship remains packed with an estimated 1,400 tons of live explosives. Now, specialized salvage teams have begun the delicate and perilous operation of removing the ship's masts before they collapse into the munition-laden holds. Key Takeaways / Chapter Highlights ⚓The Grounding (August 1944): How the heavily laden Liberty ship ran aground on a sandbank in the Great Nore anchorage during a gale after critical navigation warnings were missed. ⚓The Abandoned Salvage: Why initial salvage operations were called off when the hull broke its back, leaving nearly 14,000 explosive items submerged on the seabed. ⚓The Precedent of SS Kielce: The catastrophic 1967 detonation of a smaller munitions wreck off Folkestone that triggered a 4.5 magnitude tremor and sent a 500-foot plume of water into the air. ⚓The Worst-Case Scenario: MoD and ERDE assessments warning that a major detonation could generate a 16-foot tsunami wave flooding Sheerness and surging up the River Thames toward London. ⚓Current Operations: Why authorities are now cutting away the deteriorating masts to relieve deck stress and prevent a catastrophic collapse into the forward holds. Contact What's Going on With Shipping via: Patreon: www.patreon.com/wgowshipping Twitter: @mercoglianos Bluesky: @mercoglianos.bsky.social Facebook: @wgowshipping Email: mercoglianosal@gmail.com Bart's X Post on SS Richard Montgomery https://x.com/BartGonnissen/status/2025183532557951027 Richard Montgomery: UNEXPLODED https://unexploded.live/operation/