Cargo Ship Explodes In Baltimore Harbor, No Injuries Reported
on Aug 19, 2025
Cargo Ship Explodes Near Francis Scott Key Bridge
A cargo ship exploded Monday evening (August 18) in the Baltimore Harbor near the site of the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
The ship, identified as the W‑Sapphire, was a 751-foot Liberian-flagged bulk carrier that was transporting coal to East Africa. The explosion sent smoke into the air, causing a fast response from fireboats and the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to the Port of Baltimore, the Fort McHenry Federal Channel remains closed as of Tuesday morning. The Coast Guard has also established a 2,000-yard safety zone around the incident location.
— Port of Baltimore (@portofbalt) August 19, 2025
The Baltimore City Fire Department reported that firefighters responded by both land and water to the incident, and no injuries have been reported.
“The ship’s crew confirmed that all 23 people on board were accounted for and uninjured,” the department said. “This is a unified incident involving the ship’s owner, the Baltimore City Fire Department, the Port of Baltimore, and the United States Coast Guard. Fireboats remain on scene as the Coast Guard and other agencies begin their investigation. The vessel will be moved to a designated anchorage area and held there until cleared by the Coast Guard.”
A cargo ship just exploded in Baltimore Harbor, near the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) August 19, 2025
pic.twitter.com/QPZPLyfi8m
Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses In 2024
In March of 2024, Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a cargo ship collided with a support pillar.
Dramatic footage captured the moment at 1:28 a.m. when the ship collided with the support, causing the bridge to collapse into the water.
A livestream depicted cars and trucks on the bridge just moments before the impact. Despite the collision, the ship remained afloat with its lights still illuminated.
The crash caused several vehicles to plummet into the dark waters below, sparking a frantic search for survivors and prompting the closure of one of the nation’s busiest ports.
Shortley after the collapse of the bridge, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Maryland Mayor Brandon Scott declared a state of emergency.
Baltimore, I am officially declaring a local state of emergency in response to the collapse of our Key Bridge. Our teams are mobilizing resources and working swiftly to address this crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of our community. pic.twitter.com/x6euk2SocZ
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) March 26, 2024
According to investigations, the ship experienced a sudden blackout four minutes prior to the crash, followed by a restoration of lights. At 1:25 a.m., dark black smoke began emanating from the ship’s chimney. One minute later, at 1:26 a.m., the ship seemed to change course. In the final moments leading up to the collision, the ship’s lights flickered intermittently before ultimately striking the support.
Governor Moore disclosed that the cargo ship, Dali, notified authorities of a power loss and issued a mayday just moments before the 984-foot vessel collided with the bridge support at a speed of eight knots, equivalent to approximately nine miles per hour.
Dispatch audio captures the moments after the Key Bridge collapsed.
— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) March 26, 2024
More: https://t.co/hHXRccrX5s pic.twitter.com/XVHza2Xv0L
