The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit on Wednesday against the owner and operator of the containership that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, seeking more than $100 million in damages.
The claim targets Grace Ocean Private Limited, the owner of the Singapore-flagged M/V DALI, and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, the ship’s technical manager.
The incident occurred on March 26, 2024, when the DALI crashed into the bridge, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and injuries to two others. The collision and subsequent collapse also obstructed the federal Fort McHenry shipping channel, blocking access to the Port of Baltimore and disrupting key transportation and defense infrastructure.
Also read: Baltimore Bridge Update – Federal Channel Fully Restored
According to the Justice Department, the tragedy was “entirely avoidable.” The claim alleges that the DALI’s electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained and configured, violating safety regulations and international shipping norms. The document details a series of failures, including power losses and malfunctioning safety features, that led to the collision.
The filing states, “The ship’s owner and manager—who now ask the Court to limit their liability to less than $44 million—sent an ill-prepared crew on an abjectly unseaworthy vessel to navigate the United States’ waterways.”
It further argues that the responsible parties “must be held fully accountable for the catastrophic harm they caused, and punitive damages should be imposed to deter such misconduct.”
A preliminary report from the NTSB revealed that the DALI, with two pilots on board, lost electrical power and propulsion as it neared the bridge, causing it to collide with a piling of the bridge and resulting in its partial collapse. Notably, the ship had also experienced two electrical failures while in port the day before the accident.
Updated: September 20, 2024 (Originally published September 18, 2024)
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