Explosion rocks cargo ship near Baltimore bridge collapse site

A commercial cargo ship anchored near the ruins of Baltimore’s Key Bridge was rocked by an explosion Monday evening.

Shortly after 6.30pm (local time), the Baltimore City Fire Department received reports of a blast on the W-Sapphire, a 751-foot bulk carrier idling in the Patapsco River. Fire crews scrambled from shore while the department’s fireboats surged toward the scene. By the time they pulled up, the vessel was scarred by fire damage but still afloat, according to city officials.

All 23 crew members were accounted for and unharmed, the ship’s operator told authorities.

The blast occurred less than half a mile from the mangled remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March 2024 after a container ship slammed into one of its supports.

This is a unified incident involving the ship’s owner, the Baltimore City Fire Department, the Port of Baltimore, and the United States Coast Guard. Fireboats remain on scene as the Coast Guard and other agencies begin their investigation. The vessel will be moved to a designated anchorage area and held there until cleared by the Coast Guard.