The owner of the container ship Dali, responsible for the tragic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, has taken steps to require owners of the cargo on board to contribute to the salvage costs. Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the Singapore-based owner of the vessel, has invoked a 'general average' declaration in accordance with maritime law.
Under this declaration, a third-party adjuster will determine the proportion of costs that each stakeholder must bear. This measure is commonly employed following maritime incidents to distribute the expenses of rescuing a vessel or its cargo among involved parties. In this instance, the focus is on the expenses related to refloating the Dali, which is currently lodged with sections of the collapsed bridge on its bow.
