US Govt Files Lawsuit Against Dali Owners for Baltimore Bridge

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil claim seeking over $100 million from the owner and operator of a container ship that caused the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. This incident resulted in the tragic loss of six lives and disrupted a major transportation route in the U.S. Northeast. The department aims to recover the $103 million in expenses incurred by the United States in responding to the disaster and clearing the wreckage to reopen the Port of Baltimore in June. Additionally, punitive damages are being sought for alleged negligence by the Singaporean corporations, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, which owned and operated the Dali cargo ship.

The Justice Department’s Civil Division head, Brian Boynton, stated that the catastrophe was entirely avoidable and stemmed from foreseeable errors made by the ship’s owner and operator. The FBI launched a criminal investigation into the collapse in April, and the National Transportation Safety Board reported that the Dali experienced multiple electrical power failures before colliding with the bridge on March 26. The impact caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River, resulting in the deaths of six individuals working on the structure.

The reopening of the Port of Baltimore required the removal of 50,000 tons of debris from the bridge collapse. A massive operation involving over 1,500 responders and 500 specialists from various agencies worldwide was conducted to clear the wreckage. Maryland estimates that rebuilding the bridge will cost between $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion, with completion expected by fall 2028. The lawsuit filed by the Justice Department is part of a legal action initiated by Grace Ocean and Synergy to limit their liability for the crash to $44 million, a sum deemed insufficient by department officials.

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