Baltimore officials are racing to save up to 20 people who plunged into the Patapsco River after a Singaporean-flagged cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge at 1.30am.

Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency Tuesday morning following the catastrophic collision that occurred at 1.30am. 

The ship - the Singaporean-flagged Dali - was 20 minutes into its journey when it slammed into a support column on the bridge.