The owners of the container ship that crashed into the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge have been forced to pay over $100 million to the U.S. government.
At a glance:
- Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, the owners of the Dali, will pay $100 million to the U.S. government over the March 26 Baltimore bridge collapse.
- The collision resulted in six deaths and extensive debris, freezing one of America’s busiest ports for months.
- The settlement covers cleanup costs but excludes damages for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a $100 million settlement with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the owners and operators of the container ship Dali. The settlement follows a catastrophic crash into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, which led to the deaths of six construction workers and sent massive debris into the Patapsco River.
The collision was described as “one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory” by the Justice Department. The funds will go to the U.S. Treasury and federal agencies involved in the response, covering costs related to the cleanup. However, it does not address the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, for which the state has filed a separate claim.
Cause and Aftermath
The U.S. government blamed the incident on electrical and mechanical failures aboard the Dali, attributing the crash to poor maintenance. The malfunction led the ship to lose power, causing it to slam into a bridge column, sending debris and six men—construction workers carrying out repairs—into the river below.
The Patapsco River was subsequently clogged with approximately 50,000 tonnes of steel, concrete, and asphalt. The incident brought the bustling Port of Baltimore to a standstill for months, causing economic disruption and blocking a key route for local commuters. After extensive cleanup, the port was finally reopened to commercial traffic in June.
Settlement Terms and Impact
According to the settlement agreement, no punitive damages were imposed. A spokesperson from Synergy Marine noted that the settlement “strictly covers costs related to clearing the channel” and does not imply any admission of liability. The U.S. dismissed its claim following the agreement.
Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s civil division, described the settlement as a significant success in holding the ship’s operators accountable. “This is a tremendous outcome that fully compensates the United States for the costs it incurred in responding to this disaster,” Boynton said in a statement.
The U.S. claims the incident could have been prevented if the ship had been properly maintained. A lack of sufficient railcars forced the government to use ships for debris removal, costing an additional $1.6 million.
The legal case’s resolution concludes a month-long civil lawsuit against Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, but questions remain over the broader impact of the bridge’s collapse and the measures taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
