BALTIMORE — The principle channel utilized by cargo ships to enter and exit the Port of Baltimore was nonetheless shut down Tuesday morning because the Coast Guard probed the reason for a Monday night explosion on board a coal service.
No giant ships have been capable of carry items in or out of the port for the reason that explosion close to the location of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. The coal ship, the W-Sapphire, spent the evening anchored and surrounded by tugboats simply north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. South of the bridge, a number of cargo ships — a few of which have been due within the port Monday evening — waited.
A Tuesday morning discover from the Maryland Port Administration says that the Fort McHenry Federal Channel will stay closed till the U.S. Coast Guard determines that it’s protected to reopen for ship visitors and schedules new arrival and departure instances for the blocked vessels. The company referred all different inquiries to the Coast Guard, which didn’t instantly reply to questions in regards to the closure.
The W-Sapphire must be cleared to proceed crusing, the Coast Guard mentioned Monday night. The coal service is scheduled to be at sea for over a month, touring from Baltimore to Mauritius, an island off Africa’s east coast.
A part of the Liberian-flagged bulk service exploded Monday night, inflicting a hearth in a portion of the ship, in response to Baltimore Metropolis Hearth Division. The fireball had burst out of the vessel, which departed a Curtis Bay coal pier at round 6 p.m. Monday, because it handed via the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse web site.
“The W-Sapphire is on fireplace in the midst of the channel,” one particular person is heard saying in recorded marine radio transmissions, shortly earlier than a crew member calls a mayday for a coal explosion.
The 751-foot, coal-carrying ship confirmed indicators of a fireplace per an explosion, in response to Baltimore Metropolis Hearth Division spokesperson John Marsh.
“Firefighters responded by each land and water, together with the division’s fireboats,” Marsh mentioned. “The vessel remained afloat and was being assisted by tugboats.”
All 23 of the crew members have been accounted for and unhurt, in response to fireplace officers. The ship had two pilots aboard, in response to Coast Guard Petty Officer Matthew West. The Coast Guard additionally assisted within the rescue of the crew and the restoration of the ship, and is investigating the reason for the explosion.
Coal is the Port of Baltimore’s largest export by weight — and it’s thought of hazardous cargo. In 2017, a ship carrying coal from Baltimore to Portugal exploded, killing one crew member and injuring three others.
W Marine Inc., the Greek agency that manages the W-Sapphire, didn’t instantly return a request for remark Tuesday morning.
Gov. Wes Moore mentioned Monday evening that he was in contact with authorities, and extra details about the explosion could be supplied “because it turns into out there.”
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