Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the risks posed by the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for the long-term management of the wreck, but works closely with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) to monitor its condition.

The management of the SS Richard Montgomery is a key priority for DfT. The MCA undertakes regular surveys of the wreck to monitor its condition and inform management policy.

The regular survey reports of the SSRM are available on the Government’s website. These include an assessment of the wreck’s condition, and note that approximately 1400 tons (Net Explosive Quantity) of munitions remain in the forward section of the wreck. The next survey report will be published later this year.