A coal-carrying cargo ship experienced a significant explosion in Baltimore Harbor on Monday evening, sending a large plume of smoke into the air near the site of the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Authorities have confirmed that all 25 people on board are safe and uninjured.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on August 18, 2025, aboard the M/V W-Sapphire, a 751-foot, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier. The vessel had just departed the CSX Coal Dock at Curtis Bay and was outbound on the Patapsco River, bound for Mauritius. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 23 crew members and two pilots on board at the time of the blast.
The Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) responded swiftly by land and water, dispatching fireboats, including the 87-foot John R. Frazier. In a statement, the BCFD said its crews located the W-Sapphire showing “signs of damage consistent with a fire and explosion.” The fire was contained, and the vessel remained afloat, though it was assisted by tugboats. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management also confirmed it was monitoring the situation and reported no property damage beyond the ship itself.
Eyewitnesses sailing nearby described a dramatic scene. Jay Steinmetz, who was on a sailboat with his son, told FOX 5 DC, “We heard a huge explosion… there was a 200-foot plume of smoke over the boat.” The Steinmetzes initially thought the noise was related to the ongoing demolition of the Key Bridge. Within minutes, they heard a “Mayday, mayday” call over the radio.
The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation, led by the U.S. Coast Guard. As a precaution, the Coast Guard established a safety zone around the vessel, with reports varying between a 500-yard and a 2,000-yard perimeter. The W-Sapphire has been cleared from the main shipping channel and will be moved to a designated anchorage area, where it will be held until investigators clear it to proceed.
While the exact cause is unknown, maritime experts note that coal is historically one of the more hazardous bulk cargoes. According to gCaptain, risks associated with coal transport include spontaneous combustion, methane gas emissions, and the ignition of coal dust. The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code has strict protocols for monitoring such shipments.
The explosion occurred in an area still grappling with the aftermath of a major maritime disaster. On March 26, 2024, the container ship Dali lost power and struck a support pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse and the deaths of six construction workers. The incident shut down the port for months and prompted a massive recovery and cleanup effort. Demolition of the remaining bridge sections is currently underway, with a new, more resilient cable-stayed bridge expected to be completed by 2028.
Officials from the Maryland Port Administration and the Maryland Transportation Authority have referred all inquiries about the W-Sapphire incident to the U.S. Coast Guard as the investigation continues.
