BALTIMORE, MD—A cargo ship carrying coal exploded in Baltimore’s Patapsco River near the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on Monday evening, August 18, 2025, prompting a swift response from emergency crews. No injuries were reported, and the fire was contained, authorities said.
The explosion occurred around 6:30 p.m. EDT aboard the W-Sapphire, a 751-foot Liberian-flagged bulk carrier outbound from Baltimore Harbor en route to Port Louis, Mauritius. Video footage shared on social media captured a fireball erupting from the ship’s forward hold, followed by thick black smoke rising into the sky. The blast, described by local residents as shaking nearby houses, occurred in the shadow of the Key Bridge, which collapsed in March 2024 after a container ship collision that killed six workers.
The Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) responded by land and water, deploying its fireboat, the John R. Frazier, to the scene. Fire officials reported that the W-Sapphire sustained damage consistent with a fire and explosion but remained afloat, assisted by tugboats. All 23 crew members and two Maryland pilots on board were accounted for and uninjured, according to the BCFD and the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The vessel is stable, and the fire has been contained,” said BCFD spokesperson John Marsh. “Fireboats remain on scene as the Coast Guard and other agencies begin their investigation.
”The U.S. Coast Guard established a 2,000-yard safety zone around the ship, closing the Fort McHenry Federal Channel, a critical shipping lane for the Port of Baltimore, the nation’s ninth-busiest port. Port officials said Tuesday that the channel remains closed, with no timeline for reopening, as the Coast Guard determines the safety of vessel traffic
.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore posted on X that state agencies were coordinating with local and federal authorities to monitor the situation. “Additional information will be provided as it becomes available,” Moore wrote.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Maritime expert Sal Mercogliano noted that the W-Sapphire had just departed the CSX Coal Dock, carrying a full load of coal. Some speculate the explosion may be linked to the cargo, but officials have not confirmed this.
The incident has renewed concerns about maritime safety in Baltimore Harbor, still reeling from the Key Bridge collapse. That disaster, caused by the container ship Dali losing power and striking a bridge support, disrupted regional trade and traffic for months. Federal investigators later criticized the Maryland Transportation Authority for failing to conduct a vulnerability assessment that could have identified the bridge’s risk of collapse.
Local resident Noah Bennet, who felt the explosion, told WJZ-TV, “It shook my whole house. At first, I thought it was a truck, but it was a bang with a vibration.”
The W-Sapphire was escorted to an anchorage area off Fort Howard, where it will remain until cleared by the Coast Guard. The incident underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in Baltimore’s maritime infrastructure, with authorities emphasizing no immediate threat to nearby structures or shipping routes.
The Port of Baltimore, a key hub for coal and automobile exports, faces renewed scrutiny over safety protocols as investigations continue.
Video of the explosion can be viewed below.
🚨#BREAKING: A massive explosion has occurred on a cargo ship near the Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor
At this time, numerous emergency crews are responding to a cargo ship fire in the Baltimore Harbor on Chesapeake Bay, according to Maryland officials.… pic.twitter.com/sMxVDaeLQJ
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) August 18, 2025
