Cargo ship, W-Sapphire, explodes in Baltimore Harbour close to Francis Scott Key Bridge site
Disaster has struck twice within a year on Baltimore Harbour, after a cargo ship burst into a massive fireball in the shadows of the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction zone.
Vision captured via live stream and time-lapse cameras show the a huge explosion after a fire broke at the bow of the craft that was packed full of coal.
At around 6:30pm (local time) the W-Sapphire cargo ship burst into flame and then continued to produce fire and thick black smoke as it slowly made its way further down the Patapsco River.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.US Coast Guard officials confirmed there were 23 people and two pilots on board, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management said via social media that no injuries had been reported.
Baltimore City Fire Department scrambled fire rescue craft to assist the 751-foot bulk carrier from Liberia, which remains afloat.
“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,” they said.
Memories of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse are still raw after the disaster which occurred on March 26, 2024.
Six construction workers were killed after another cargo ship lost power and rammed the bridge causing it to collapse into the United States ninth-busiest port.
Reconstruction crews continue to remove parts of the collapsed bridge as the project to rebuild the new Key Bridge rebuild is expected to continue until 2028.
