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!

Small glinting silvery craft out there by the mast, full of orange people.

And the cable is being dangled above the mast.

Two cables, in fact, at different points on the mast. At least, that's how it appears through the barely penetrable murk.

Crane faffing with stuff inboard on the barge.

Rearranging previously removed masts to make space?

V poor visibility, it's v high tide so not much to see, and owner of the camera keeps adjusting the view... but maybe the third mast is no more.

I thought that yellow triangled thing in the foreground was a dinghy lurking to watch.

But it's been there a while and the "sails" appear rather rigid. Is this one of the new marker buoys?

I saw it once before when the camera was pointing that way. I think it's a marker buoy.

Am home again now. It's sunny on the mainland, that must be a sea mist. Oh well, I might get stuff done this afternoon if I can't watch what they're doing and the passing shipping.

Vulcan is heading back to Sheerness, so suppose that's it for today. No idea whether they lifted the mast.

This morning brings us:
– no mist,
– one mast.

Vulcan is on her way from Queenborough.

I'm glad the mast is still there. I told some local people about the camera yesterday, but of course they wouldn't have been able to see anything if they looked.

Lots of action this morning.

Lowering a cradle right now.

Very clear image today.

The crane is supporting a big yellow pipe attached to equipment in the cradle. I'd guess this is to do with equipment that will be used by the divers.

Is that an orange person bobbing in the water under the cradle?

I can’t make out if it’s a person or a floatation device

It moved too and fro a lot. I don't know much about diving, but maybe it's a personal marker buoy for the diver?

Orange bobber still bobbing hither and yon. Lots of orange people at the end of the barge fiddling with their little line as before.

Cradle coming up.

And swaying towards barge.

Bright flashes at water level around mast.

That was an odd shaped thing. A brace? Cutting tool? Wish there was a commentary!

I think it was the object which was horizontal when it was swayed out to mast. I thought it was some sort of cradle maybe carrying stuff.

I wonder if this is all part of the plan, or there are lots of people going "FFS!"

Going in for another attempt at whatever they're doing.

And photobombed by the Bothniaborg!

Oh crikey have I missed it??

Watched all day, took 10 minutes off, and missed it! Looks like they’re still trying to land it at the moment.

I've been on a train and the page wouldn't load so I missed it too!
There's something black just showing above the water, so is there still a bit to go?