On August 18, 2025, the MV W Sapphire, a 751-foot Liberian-flagged bulk cargo ship fully loaded with coal and departing Baltimore Harbor, suffered an explosion in its forward cargo hold near the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which had collapsed in March 2024. The explosion caused a large fireball and smoke plume, prompting a massive emergency response involving local fire boats, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other emergency crews. The ship was en route to Port Louis, Mauritius. Authorities confirmed no injuries among the 23 crew members and two pilots aboard. The Fort McHenry Federal Channel, Baltimore’s main shipping route, was temporarily closed due to the incident but later reopened. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion, with potential factors including methane gas generated by the coal cargo, which is known to be prone to self-heating and liquefaction. The incident disrupted port operations but was contained without casualties.