MARYLAND NEWS – Massive explosion rocks cargo ship in Baltimore Harbor near Francis Scott Key Bridge

Ananya Roy, News Writer

A cargo ship caught fire Monday evening in Baltimore Harbor, producing a massive explosion near the remaining wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March 2024. The 751-foot Liberian bulk carrier, W-Sapphire, was carrying coal when the blaze erupted around 6:30 p.m., sending black smoke pluming across the Patapsco River. The U.S. Coast Guard and Baltimore City Fire Department responded, confirming that all 23 crew members and two pilots on board were safe. The Fort McHenry Federal Channel remains closed as authorities investigate the cause and determine when the waterway can reopen.

The explosion occurred close to ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts at the collapsed Key Bridge, which killed six construction workers and disrupted major shipping lanes in the nation’s ninth-busiest port. Fireboats are holding the W-Sapphire at a designated anchorage while investigators assess damage, and crews will continue removing debris that blocks the bridge’s alignment. The full rebuild of the bridge is expected to be completed in 2028, and authorities have stressed that no property damage or injuries have been reported from the latest incident.