Controversial Thames shipwreck SS Richard Montgomery safely reached its 80th anniversary yesterday (August 20) off Kent, UK.

SS Richard Montgomery ran aground and sank on 20 August 1944, only 1.5 miles offshore of the town of Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey.

The doomed ship sank with 1400 tonnes of explosives onboard which has left experts divided ever since on how to best deal with such an unusual problem.

Successive governments have decided the safest course of action to leave the ship where it is, and to undertake regular surveys, as well as keeping the vessel under 24 hour visual and radar surveillance.

Footage filmed from Sheerness beach yesterday evening (August 20) shows the shipwreck at low tide on the 80th anniversary, followed by footage filmed today (August 21) showing survey vessel Amelie-G undertaking an ADCP survey of the wreck.

An ADCP (acoustic doppler current profiler) survey is being undertaken to measure the speed and direction of the water currents surrounding the wreck site to help plan future works, including planned removal of the ship's three masts.