Dali’s Owners Seek to Limit Liability in Baltimore Accident

Grace Ocean and ship manager Synergy Marine are denying responsibility for a recent accident involving their 10,000 teu ship. Their lawyers, Duane Morris and Blank Rome, have filed a petition aiming to consolidate all litigation in Baltimore’s federal court and impose a filing deadline for claims. The companies assert that the accident was not due to any fault on their part or the vessel’s, and are seeking to limit their liability to the value of the vessel and its cargo.

Under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, the vessel owner and manager can limit liability for certain claims to the value of the vessel and its cargo. The companies are expected to argue that they had no prior knowledge of factors that caused the accident. With insurance covering the vessel’s hull and machinery valued at $90 million, the estimated costs of repairs and salvage have eroded this value significantly.

The accident, which resulted in the collapse of a bridge and the deaths of six maintenance workers, is expected to lead to a lengthy court battle. The companies are seeking exoneration for the losses suffered and are preparing to defend against potential claims. Estimates suggest that the accident could become one of the most expensive in history, with salvage costs complicated by the vessel’s position on the riverbed and the tangled steel debris.

Source .