Explosion rocks coal cargo ship in Baltimore; no casualties

A 751-foot cargo vessel named W-Sapphire experienced an explosion and subsequent fire while traveling through the Patapsco River near Baltimore on Monday evening. The bulk carrier, which was transporting coal and had 23 crew members aboard, suffered the incident around 6:30 p.m. in the same waterway where the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed just last month. Emergency services, including Coast Guard personnel and Baltimore City firefighters, responded immediately to the scene.

The fire was successfully extinguished while the ship continued moving, and authorities established a 500-yard safety perimeter around the vessel. Video evidence showed thick black smoke rising from the ship, demonstrating the intensity of the blaze. Despite the dramatic nature of the explosion and fire, all crew members remained unharmed.

The incident has prompted a comprehensive investigation to determine the underlying cause, while the safety zone may temporarily affect shipping traffic in the main channel.