Dali Owners Settle for $102 Million for Baltimore Bridge Collision

The owner and operator of the cargo ship responsible for the deadly collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March have agreed to pay $102 million to the federal government, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The settlement comes after the department filed a civil claim seeking $103 million from two Singaporean companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, in an effort to recoup the costs incurred by the U.S. government in responding to the disaster and clearing the wreckage from the Port of Baltimore. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the ship lost electrical power multiple times before crashing into the bridge in the Patapsco River, leading to a criminal investigation by the FBI.

The reopening of the waterway required the removal of 50,000 tons of debris, with over 1,500 responders and 500 specialists from around the world involved in the operation. The state of Maryland estimates the cost of rebuilding the bridge to be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, with completion expected by fall 2028. Maryland has separately filed claims against the companies for the bridge’s reconstruction costs, cleanup efforts, environmental claims, and other expenses. Funds recovered by Maryland for the bridge’s reconstruction will be used to offset project costs paid by the U.S. government, as stated by the DOJ.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit was initiated as part of a legal action by Grace Ocean and Synergy to limit their liability for the crash to $44 million, a sum deemed insufficient by department officials. The settlement ensures that the costs of the cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are covered by the companies, rather than the American taxpayer. The ship collided with a support pylon, causing the bridge to collapse into the river.

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