The owner and manager of the cargo ship responsible for the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse have reached a settlement with the Justice Department to pay over $102 million in cleanup costs. The agreement, announced on Thursday, does not cover damages for rebuilding the bridge, which could amount to nearly $2 billion. Maryland has filed its own claim seeking additional damages.
The lawsuit was brought against Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the ship's owner, and Synergy Marine Group, the manager, both based in Singapore. The Justice Department alleged that the ship, named the Dali, had improperly maintained electrical and mechanical systems, leading to a power loss and subsequent collision with a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.
The impact of the ship caused the bridge to collapse, resulting in the tragic deaths of six road crew workers who were filling potholes during an overnight shift. Cleanup efforts were extensive, with crews working tirelessly to remove mangled steel and concrete from the Patapsco River. The Dali remained lodged in the wreckage for almost two months, causing disruptions to commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore.
The settlement agreement ensures that the cleanup costs incurred by the federal government in the Fort McHenry Channel are covered by Grace Ocean and Synergy, rather than the American taxpayer. The incident not only had a significant human toll but also disrupted shipping routes along the East Coast, impacting the operations of the busy Port of Baltimore.
While the settlement does not imply an admission of responsibility or wrongdoing, Grace Ocean and Synergy have committed to defending themselves vigorously in the ongoing legal proceedings. The Justice Department's claim for cleanup costs was just one of many in a complex liability case that will determine the extent of the ship owner and manager's financial obligations related to the disaster.
An FBI investigation into the collapse is ongoing, with agents boarding the ship in April to gather evidence. The civil claim by the Justice Department detailed a series of failures on the Dali, including maintenance issues with electrical systems and engine equipment. The lawsuit highlighted crew members' attempts to address these problems inadequately, leading to the catastrophic event.
