Cargo Ship Explosion Baltimore MD Sparks Renewed Safety Concerns Amid Ongoing Investigations

An explosion occurred aboard the W-Sapphire, a 751-foot bulk carrier, near the former site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor on the evening of August 18, 2025. According to Baltimore City fire officials and the U.S. Coast Guard, the incident took place around 6:30 p.m. on the Patapsco River. Upon responding to reports of the explosion, the Baltimore City Fire Department and other agencies, including units from the U.S. Coast Guard, arrived by both land and water to address the situation.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the 23 crew members and two pilots who were onboard the vessel at the time of the explosion. The bulk carrier, registered in Liberia, was transporting coal when the explosion disrupted its journey. Despite sustaining visible damage and showing signs of fire and explosive impact, the ship remained afloat. Tugboats were engaged to assist the ship, ensuring its safe maneuvering to a designated anchorage area where it awaits further clearance from the Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that a strict safety perimeter extending 2,000 yards from the Key Bridge to Brewerton Angle Channel LB "14" has been established around the site to control the area as the investigation into the cause of the explosion proceeds. At this stage, the reasons behind the fire and subsequent explosion remain under active investigation, and both federal and local agencies are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

Governor Wes Moore has expressed his administration's ongoing engagement with the incident, stating through social media that state agencies are in contact with relevant local and federal authorities to keep abreast of developments.

This explosion has again brought attention to the previous collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024. The bridge had fallen after a container ship lost power and crashed into its structure, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and causing significant disruption to the region's infrastructure and businesses. The rebirth of the bridge is underway, with a new design aimed at better resilience against ship collisions, and is anticipated to be completed by 2028.

This incident remains under careful scrutiny as the U.S. Coast Guard, alongside the Baltimore City Fire Department, and other emergency response teams, continue their investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure the safety of Baltimore's harbor waterways.