$100 Million Settlement Reached for Baltimore Bridge Collapse in Fatal Ship Collision
The US government has secured a $100 million settlement from the owners of the container ship Dali after a tragic collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge led to the deaths of six construction workers and caused widespread damage. Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the companies responsible for the Dali, agreed to the settlement following a civil lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice.
The incident, which occurred on March 26, is described by the Department of Justice as “one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory,” sending tons of debris into the Patapsco River and disrupting Baltimore’s vital Port operations for months. Payment from the settlement will go to the US Treasury and other federal agencies involved in the response.
“This outcome fully reimburses the United States for the extensive response costs and holds the owner and operator of the Dali accountable,” stated Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s civil division.
The settlement, which does not include funds for bridge reconstruction, covers costs tied to debris removal and channel clearing. Maryland has filed a separate claim for bridge repair expenses. The Department of Justice attributed the accident to mechanical and electrical failures on the Dali, alleging that inadequate maintenance led the vessel to lose power and crash into a bridge column, sending workers into the water.
Traffic at the Port of Baltimore, one of the nation’s busiest ports, resumed in June following extensive cleanup efforts, while the bridge collapse severely impacted local commuters and led to months of economic disruption.
