New Image Shows Extent Of Blast-Damaged Cargo Ship In Baltimore
Update (0955ET):
New images circulating X show the damaged cargo ship MV W Sapphire after an explosion ripped through its forward hold near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on Monday evening. The vessel was sailing through Baltimore’s Inner Harbor shipping lane at the time of the incident, shortly after departing the CSX coal dock with a full load.
Shipping expert Sal Mercogliano wrote on X that the vessel remains anchored just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. He said the image shows the number 1 hatch blown wide open, suggesting the explosion of a buildup of methane mixed with coal.
W Sapphire is still anchored just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
— Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️ (@mercoglianos) August 19, 2025
This image shows the #1 hatch cover lying on top of the ship, indicating that the explosion - probably from a methane buildup, along with some coal - displaced it.
The ship will need to be surveyed &… https://t.co/Ad0o46JJTQ pic.twitter.com/stTtp0hKLS
An aerial image shows extensive damage to the number 1 hatch.
Aerial photo showing the damaged ship. #MVWSapphire pic.twitter.com/KXAmOqfvs3
— Andrew Doyle (@doyle0213) August 19, 2025
More details about the incident from MarineTraffic....
Fire on ship near Baltimore prompts rapid coast guard response
— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) August 19, 2025
An #explosion aboard the W-Sapphire, a 751-foot cargo vessel en route to Mauritius, interrupted her departure from #Baltimore near the Francis Scott Key Bridge. #MarineTraffic data show the vessel departed at… pic.twitter.com/0lglOSdQHv
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An explosion has been reported on a cargo ship traveling through the outbound shipping lane of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.
NEW - Cargo ship explodes near Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. pic.twitter.com/oQKld5xY4R
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 19, 2025
According to shipping expert Sal Mercogliano, the cargo ship MV W Sapphire “suffered an explosion in its forward hold” and was “fully loaded” at the time of the incident.
MV W Sapphire, outbound from Baltimore near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, suffered an explosion in its forward hold.
— Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️ (@mercoglianos) August 18, 2025
The ship has been escorted off Fort Howard and fire and @USCG vessels are on scene.
W Sapphire is a fully loaded bulk carrier sailing to Mauritius. pic.twitter.com/Vyn9oWQIjR
Mercogliano said the W Sapphire “had just departed from the CSX Curtis Bay coal piers in Baltimore” and suggested “this may have been a coal explosion in the forward hold.”
Shipping expert John Konrad notes, "Coal can create methane and is subject to self-heating and liquefication. Bulkers can explode..."
Sal has confirmed the explosion of a ship in Baltimore. This is a bulk carrier.
— John Ʌ Konrad V (@johnkonrad) August 19, 2025
We don’t know the cargo but Baltimore is a major exporter of coal & Mauritius is a coal importer.
Coal can create methane and is subject to self-heating and liquefication. Bulkers can explode… 1/4 https://t.co/JQ0VAPlmwR
Baltimore City Fire spokesperson John Marsh told local station WBAL-TV that the explosion occurred around 6:28 p.m. local time. No details were provided about the source of the blast.
*Developing...