By Steve Neavling
The Justice Department has finalized a settlement exceeding $100 million with the owner and operator of a containership involved in a devastating collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
This settlement aims to cover federal expenses tied to the bridge’s collapse, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Just a month prior, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the vessel’s owner and operator, alleging that the Dali, the ship involved, struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26 after experiencing a power failure. The crash tragically claimed the lives of six construction workers, severed a critical highway link, and temporarily halted shipping traffic from the Port of Baltimore.
In its legal action, the Justice Department initially sought $103 million from two companies based in Singapore: Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the vessel’s registered owner, and Synergy Marine, the managing entity. The companies agreed to settle at $102 million, the department announced Thursday.
Benjamin C. Mizer, a senior official with the Justice Department, called the settlement an “important milestone” in recovering federal costs related to the incident.
“This resolution ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy and not the American taxpayer,” he said.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit contended that the ship’s owners and operators neglected safety measures that led to the vessel’s loss of power and subsequent collision with the bridge. Allegations included negligence, mismanagement, and cost-cutting measures that compromised the Dali’s electrical and mechanical systems, limiting its ability to regain propulsion and steering after the power loss.
