Maryland Sues Dali’s Owner and Operator for Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Maryland filed civil lawsuits against the owner and operator of a cargo ship that rammed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, leading to six deaths and a major transportation disruption. The lawsuit seeks damages from two Singaporean companies, Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and Synergy Marine Group, for costs related to the bridge, cleanup, environmental claims, and other expenses. The incident was deemed “entirely preventable” and caused significant harm to Maryland and its citizens.

The U.S. Department of Justice also filed a civil lawsuit demanding $103 million from the two companies to cover the costs of removing the wreckage of the cargo ship Dali and bridge debris from Baltimore Harbor. Both Maryland and the Department of Justice are pursuing punitive damages, alleging negligence on the part of Grace Ocean and Synergy.

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the cargo ship experienced blackouts before colliding with the bridge, prompting an FBI criminal investigation. The owner and operator of the cargo ship have not yet commented on the allegations. Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the deceased workers and the construction company that employed them. Grace Ocean and Synergy have attempted to limit their liability for the accident to the cash value of the ship and its cargo, estimating damages at just over $43 million.

Source