The U.S. Justice Department has taken legal action against the owner and manager of the cargo ship responsible for the Baltimore bridge collapse, with a lawsuit seeking to recover over $100 million spent by the government to clear underwater debris and reopen the city's port. The lawsuit alleges that the ship, named the Dali, had improperly maintained electrical and mechanical systems, leading to a loss of power and deviation off course before striking a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.
The incident, deemed as 'entirely avoidable' in the lawsuit, caused significant disruptions to commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore for months until the channel was fully reopened in June. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the civil claim aims to hold the responsible companies, Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Group of Singapore, accountable for the costs incurred, rather than burdening the American taxpayer.
