Maryland Reaches Settlement in Principle With Dali Owner in Key Bridge Collapse Case

Maryland has reached a settlement in principle with the owner and operator of the containership Dali, marking a significant step toward resolving state-level claims stemming from the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced the agreement Wednesday with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., resolving a portion of the State’s claims tied to the vessel’s March 26, 2024 allision with the bridge.

The settlement, which remains subject to finalization, covers claims brought by Maryland’s Civil Litigation Division on behalf of multiple state agencies, including the Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland Port Administration, and Maryland Department of the Environment.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

“This settlement is an important step toward making Maryland whole,” Brown said, noting the disaster’s lasting toll on workers, families, and businesses across the state.

The agreement resolves claims against the vessel’s owner and operator, but does not address potential liability involving the shipbuilder, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, leaving a key component of the broader case unresolved.

Maryland’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in September 2024, alleged negligence, mismanagement, and the operation of an unseaworthy vessel that “should never have left port.”

The State sought damages tied to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, environmental harm to the Patapsco River, and lost revenues and economic disruption across Maryland.

Additional claims from victims’ families, injured workers, and impacted businesses remain ongoing.

The collapse of the Key Bridge killed six construction workers and triggered one of the most disruptive maritime infrastructure failures in recent U.S. history.

Shipping through the Port of Baltimore was temporarily halted, thousands of workers were affected, and more than 34,000 vehicles per day were forced onto detour routes, straining surrounding communities and supply chains.

The economic ripple effects continue to be felt nearly two years later.

While the settlement addresses civil claims, the technical and legal debate over the cause of the casualty continues.

The National Transportation Safety Board has identified a loss of electrical power triggered by a single loose signal wire as the initiating failure, while broader questions around vessel operation, system redundancy, and infrastructure vulnerability remain central to ongoing proceedings.

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