BALTIMORE (AP) — Investigators on Tuesday were trying to determine what caused an explosion aboard a cargo ship laden with coal as it departed Baltimore's harbor for East Africa.
Officials said no one was injured in the blast Monday evening, which prompted a mayday call when it was reported near the site of last year’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse . Video of the explosion showed flames shooting high into the air, followed by a large plume of dark smoke billowing over the Patapsco River.
The Port of Baltimore’s main shipping channel was closed Tuesday while crews worked to locate a hatch from the ship that detached during the explosion and fell into the water, officials said.
“The U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency in the response and will determine when the channel can safely re