A fire and an explosion damaged a bulk carrier ship in the Port of Baltimore on Monday evening, near the site of a cargo ship accident that toppled the Francis Scott Key bridge last year.

The Baltimore City Fire Department responded to reports of an explosion aboard a commercial vessel in the Patapsco River near the former Key Bridge site at around 6:30 p.m., said John Marsh, a department spokesperson.

A fireboat crew arrived to find a 751-foot bulk carrier, the W-Sapphire, showing signs of “damage consistent with a fire and explosion.” A cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.

The ship’s crew confirmed that all 23 people on board were accounted for and uninjured, Marsh said in the statement. The W-Sapphire remained afloat Monday evening and was being assisted by tugboats. It

See Full Page