Overview

• The Fort McHenry Federal Channel fully reopened Thursday after crews located and removed the hatch that blew off the Liberian‑flagged bulk carrier.
• The blast occurred near the former Francis Scott Key Bridge site, where lingering debris has complicated navigation and search operations.
• No injuries were reported; 23 crew members and two local pilots were aboard the vessel during the explosion.
• The W‑Sapphire remains moored north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as the U.S. Coast Guard and NTSB continue their investigation.
• Outlets reported differing measurements of the recovered hatch, and officials said an Army Corps sonar survey helped pinpoint it after closures that halted traffic for nearly 20 hours.