BULKER EXPLOSION

UPDATE: The U.S. Coast Guard has reopened the Fort McHenry Federal Channel into and out of the Port of Baltimore. Port officials expressed appreciation for "the great work of the Coast Guard, tugs, pilots, and other port partners to reopen the channel as quickly as possible" and thanked customers for "their patience and understanding through this incident."

The U.S. Coast Guard and local partners are continuing to respond to an explosion aboard the 751-foot merchant vessel W-Sapphire in Baltimore Harbor, which has forced the temporary closure of the Fort McHenry Federal Channel.

The incident occurred Monday evening when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Maryland – National Capital Region received a distress call via VHF channel 16 at approximately 6:30 p.m. from the vessel reporting an explosion onboard.