The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of the cargo ship involved in the deadly collapse of the Baltimore Bridge, seeking over $100 million. The lawsuit alleges that the owner ignored electrical issues and placed an “ill-prepared crew on an abjectly unseaworthy vessel.”
On March 26, the Singapore-flagged M/V Dali lost power and crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in the deaths of six road workers. At the time, the 106,000-ton ship was en route to Sri Lanka.
Filed in Maryland against Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the lawsuit details failures on the Dali that left the crew in danger. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to holding those responsible accountable for the tragedy and its disruption to transportation infrastructure.
The lawsuit claims the ship’s electrical and mechanical systems were poorly maintained and “jury-rigged,” leading to the power failure that caused the crash. None of the ship’s steering mechanisms worked during the incident, which the DOJ labeled as entirely “avoidable.”
Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for Grace Ocean, declined to comment but expressed eagerness for the case to proceed in court. The Baltimore shipping lane fully reopened in June.
About The Author
