There was no visual evidence whatsoever of an explosion. At that time of night/morning, an explosion would have been seen without question. What was strange though, it the appearance that the vessel turned right into the bridge support,
1. Ship loses power.
2. Pilot tries to steer ship without success; reverses engines in a desperate attempt to stop forward motion (the telltale black smoke billowing from the stack seems to support this).
3. Power comes on briefly. Rudder is turned completely as a result of Item #2.
4. Power goes back off with the rudder stuck in the turned position.
5. Ship strikes bridge pier.
Not strange at all. Lose power, lose control. Worse yet, try to panic-stop and you really lose control.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N39w6aQFKSQ&t=33s