Dali Crew’s Departure in Question Amid Ongoing Litigation Over Bridge Collapse

Lawyers are seeking to prevent crew members of the containership Dali from leaving the U.S. amid ongoing litigation related to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

The crew, from India and Sri Lanka, have been on the ship since it crashed into the bridge on March 26, causing six deaths.

The City of Baltimore’s attorneys argue the crew’s testimonies are crucial for ongoing civil litigation to determine responsibility for the incident’s costs and damages.

Eight of the 21 crew members on board are scheduled to return home as early as this week, but their departure could be postponed depending on the court’s ruling regarding an emergency request to keep them in the U.S.

The ongoing civil litigation over the deadly disaster was initiated by the ship’s owner and manager, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, two Singapore-based companies, in an attempt to limit their legal liability from the disaster.

In April, the City of Baltimore filed a lawsuit against the two companies, alleging that they were negligent for letting the ship leave the Port of Baltimore, despite knowing about its power issues.

A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Bureau on the disaster revealed that the ship experienced two blackouts hours before it left the Seagirt Marine Terminal on the fateful voyage. The ship lost electrical power and propulsion again as it neared the bridge, leading to it hitting the bridge and causing sections of the bridge to collapse, blocking the entrance to the Port of Baltimore.

The city is seeking a jury trial, requesting that the U.S. District Court of Maryland hold the ship’s owners fully responsible for the bridge’s collapse.

Currently, the Dali is docked at the Seagirt Marine Terminal, where it was moved after being refloated on May 20. All crew members are still on board.

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