Sunita Somvanshi
All 23 crew members and two harbor pilots aboard the bulk carrier W Sapphire escaped unharmed after an explosion rocked the vessel in Baltimore’s Patapsco River Monday evening, less than half a mile from the site of last year’s Key Bridge collapse.
The Baltimore City Fire Department responded to the 751-foot Liberian-flagged vessel around 6:30 p.m. following reports of a blast that sent a fireball and black smoke plume skyward. Fire teams deployed both by land and water, including the department’s specialized fireboat.
“The vessel remained afloat and was being assisted by tug boats,” said John Marsh, Baltimore City Fire Department spokesperson. The ship showed signs of damage consistent with a fire and explosion.
The W Sapphire, managed by Athens-based W Marine and built in 2012, had just departed CSX’s Curtis Bay coal terminal when the incident occurred. According to maritime tracking data, the fully-loaded bulker was bound for Port Louis, Mauritius.
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The U.S. Coast Guard established a 2,000-yard safety zone spanning from the Key Bridge to Brewerton Angle Channel LB “14” while investigators determine the cause. The vessel was guided to the Port of Baltimore’s Annapolis Anchorage near the Bay Bridge, where it will remain until cleared by the Coast Guard.
Maritime expert Sal Mercogliano reported the blast occurred in the forward hold of the coal-laden vessel, though officials have not confirmed this assessment. Coal cargoes can sometimes release combustible gases that pose explosion risks when not properly ventilated.
The Maryland Department of Emergency Management reported no property damage beyond the ship itself. Governor Wes Moore stated that state agencies are responding, with his office “in touch with local and federal authorities.”
The incident occurred less than half a mile from where the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March 2024 after being struck by the container ship MV Dali. That disaster killed six construction workers and closed the Port of Baltimore for 11 weeks. Reconstruction of the bridge is targeted for completion by 2028.
The Port of Baltimore handled 45.9 million tons of international cargo valued at $62.2 billion in 2024, ranking 10th by foreign cargo tonnage and 11th by dollar value.
Witnesses Jay and Sam Steinmetz were sailing nearby when they heard what Jay described to CBS News as a “really loud explosion” followed by a large plume of smoke. Minutes later, they heard the vessel’s “mayday” call.The BCFD operates the region’s only full-time fireboat capable of responding to maritime emergencies on the Chesapeake Bay. Officials said investigation into the explosion’s cause is ongoing.
