Passenger Vessel Carrying 447 Smashes Pier in Baltimore

A passenger vessel carrying nearly 450 people struck a pier in Baltimore on Sunday, causing damage but no serious injuries among passengers or crew.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that the Spirit of Baltimore struck the pier at the Henderson Wharf Marina, located on the Patapsco River in the Fells Point area, near the city’s historic Inner Harbor district. There were 447 people aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, the Coast Guard said.

The vessel’s hull sustained some minor cosmetic damage, and about 60-feet of pier was damaged, according to the Coast Guard.

Local news reported that two people sustained minor injuries.

The Spirit of Baltimore is operated by Spirit Cruises. According to the company’s website, the vessel actually docks at a pier Baltimore’s historic Inner Harbor, so how it ended up at the dock in the Fells Point area remains uncertain.

Coast Guard investigators from Sector Maryland-National Capital Region were investigating the incident and assessing the damage to the vessel and pier on Sunday afternoon.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation. There have been no reports of pollution.

“Spirit Cruises takes the safety of our passengers, community and shipmates very seriously. The company is conducting a full investigation and cooperating fully with the United States Coast Guard regarding the incident that occurred in the early hours of August 28,” said Dan Leaman, General Manager, Mid-Atlantic Region, Entertainment Cruises (parent company of Spirit Cruises), according to CBS Baltimore.

The captain of the has reportedly been suspended pending further investigation.