For anyone interested in the removal of the masts from the SS Richard Montgomery in the Thames, it’s happening now!

[columnatedruinsdomino]

Live feed

https://www.iossc.org.uk/weather/?sn=cam1-rt

The first mast was removed yesterday. There is a time-lapse video on Facebook under James Bell Photography that shows the mast being lifted out of the water. I can’t seem to share it.

One down, two to go!

!!!;

What happened?

Just checked. Cropped to remove the ads for nicotine pouches

I'm in Essex!!
At the top of a hill, my windows though!! Boom! 💥

Dangling and swaying is occurring.

Well that was deftly done. Laid flat on the crane barge and all's well.

Gutted! Missed the whole thing! There will be a time lapse video hopefully by James Bell. I’ll post it later if I find it.

We have action - but someone's fiddling with the camera so the picture keeps shifting and breaking up.

Looks like two blokes in a cage being dangled near the top of the remaining mast.

Oof! I thought they were going to drop that board!

Has the mast sunk a bit?or presumably the tide

Yes, it looks like the tide is high. Did you see the top of the mast (possibly 10ft) cut off about 10.30? I saw them cutting it, looked away for a few seconds and suddenly it was swinging off the end of the cable! Maybe the rest will go later

No I missed it!

If you can see the guys in hi vis at the edge of the Neptune they seem to be pulling up something from the depths.

Not a crate of bombs, one hopes.

Have spent too much time on that page watching the passing shipping.

The ship is the most dangerous at low tide so taking the masts off does make sense

I do worry that with no visible markers like those masts it just becomes more vulnerable to slapdash Captains, even if there are warning bouys

https://fb.watch/v/1BPqSSoZ8W/

Glad that the masts are only going to Chatham for some restoration work. Hopefully then going to Sheerness

Oh I wonder where in Chatham? Would be nice to imagine the conservators have space in the Dockyard, all civil though it is now.

Oh I wonder where in Chatham? Would be nice to imagine the conservators have space in the Dockyard, all civil though it is now.

I read that they are going to the Dockyard. Can't recall where I saw it.

That's where the timbers from the Cutty Sark went for conservation, and so escaped the fire some years ago.

Small cradle is in action and orange figures are clambering over the third mast.

Blimey had no idea about this. Very interesting...

That was a very active hour! I don’t know whether to get on with my day now or wait.

I'm definitely getting on with my day!

The white service vessel is alongside again now, so maybe a visitor or a change of personnel.

Having the Marine Traffic page displayed below the camera image is a great time waster. I keep thinking I'll just wait for this or that ship to pass. Just saw the Berge Arzew, escorted by tugs. She went up yesterday.

I've been watching some of the small boats pottering about on the Marine Traffic map!

Just realised the Edith May is a traditional Thames sailing barge. She's in Halstow Creek at the moment. Don't know if she'll come out to Sheerness and be caught on camera.