Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to monitor the condition and safety of the SS Richard Montgomery; and when he plans to publicise the results of such monitoring.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) carries out regular surveys of the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery. These are generally multibeam sonar surveys and, in recent years, they have also included laser scanning of those parts of the wreck’s structure which are visible above the waterline. Survey reports, and background information about the wreck, are published at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ss-richard-montgomery-information-and-survey-reports

In addition, Medway Port Authority guards the wreck under contract to the MCA. The Authority provides: 24 hour surveillance of the wreck, both visually and by radar; patrols of the area around the wreck; and an initial response to any potential incursions.