// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Masts from explosives-packed ship taken to museum
The wreck remains surrounded by an exclusion zone in the Thames Estuary
Three masts removed from a bomb-laden shipwreck in the Thames Estuary have been successfully taken to a maritime museum.
The poles, delicately removed from the SS Richard Montgomery in September, will be kept at the Historic Dockyard Chatham.
The masts had been visible from the Essex and Kent coasts since the doomed vessel sank with 1,400 tonnes of explosives onboard in 1944.
Junior transport minister, Kier Mather said removing the masts had reduced the risk of them toppling on to and detonating the bombs.
"As the vessel has aged, the masts continued to place significant load on the structure," he said in a written statement to Parliament.
"Their removal has reduced that risk and supports the long-term safe management of the site."
A deadly secret in the Thames - what is the SS Richard Montgomery?
The salvage team used cranes to support the masts as they were cut free
Engineers cut the masts free during a daring project, initially estimated to cost £9.5m. A crane supported the poles as they were sliced off and lifted to safety.