Correspondent, Alex Thomson heads out from Sheerness to the site of the ship-wreck (only around one mile offshore) on the Thames Estuary. Afloat also adds that Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey was a former ferryport connecting Vlissingen, the Netherlands up to 1994. Among the Olau Line ferries operating was Olau Britannia which many years later served Cork-Swansea as Julia under Fastnet Line which ceased in 2011.
Credit: Channel 4 News-twitter
Almost three weeks ago the massive 'port' explosion which devastated a large swathe of the Lebanese capital Beirut sent shock waves through the world.
But could such a tragedy ever happen here?
The SS Richard Montgomery ran aground and sank just off Sheerness back in 1944.
And as Channel 4's News chief correspondent Alex Thomson has been finding out – the ship’s wreck still contains thousands of tons of explosive ordinance.
For more see the footage on the story here.
Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.
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