Aberdeen based company CUT recently completed diamond wire cutting on the SS Montgomery in the Thames Estuary.
This high-profile project was completed by the book, quickly and safely.
CUT did cuts on the masts and boom of the SS Richard Montgomery, a sunken shipwreck in the Thames Estuary laden with 1,400 tonnes of wartime explosives. The vessel, which sank in 1944 off the Kent coast, posed a significant risk due to its cargo, and experts believed that reducing the masts' height to below sea level would alleviate pressure on the wreck's structure. The masts were removed using CUT diamond wire cutting machines and unique diamond wire and will be transported to Chatham’s Historic Dockyard in Kent for preservation and public display.
The US government has supported efforts to keep the masts in the UK for public display, with the US ambassador to the UK backing the initiative. Efforts to salvage the cargo vessel, known as a Liberty ship, in 1944 were abandoned when it flooded about a month after it ran aground.
On completion of the last cut, an excellent Customer Satisfaction Report was provided to CUT. CUT received the award for this project due to their outstanding safety record, track record of similar salvage operations and reliability.
Maritime Minister Keir Mather said: “The SS Richard Montgomery is one of the most extraordinary wrecks in the world—a piece of wartime history that has rested in the Thames Estuary for over 80 years. Preserving this remarkable part of Anglo-American history also means future generations can learn about the extraordinary risks faced by the merchant sailors during the Allied war effort.”
Bruce Sinclair, CUT Business Development Manager said “This project was unusual for many reasons, including the fact that our CUT offshore crew was a father & daughter team. Brian and Lilly completed every cut quicker than forecasted, ensured all operations ran smoothly and efficiently, and focussed on safety throughout. Congratulations to the whole CUT team, both onshore and offshore. Their dedication, professionalism and competency were appreciated by the client and this project will be well remembered for all the right reasons.”
So far in 2026 CUT have completed cuts of mooring chains, piles, offshore legs, pipes, umbilicals, risers, conductors, multi-strings, buoyancy tanks, windfarm cable protection systems, salvage operations, onshore and offshore projects, cutting in air, shallow waters and deepwater scopes. CUT are currently recruiting for onshore and offshore personnel to satisfy their order book for 2027-2028.