Settlement for Dali Ship Disaster

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The owner and operator of the cargo ship that struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, killing six people, has agreed to pay $102 million to the federal government, the U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday.

In September, the department filed a civil claim seeking $103 million from two Singaporean companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited. The claim aimed to recoup the money the U.S. government spent responding to the disaster and clearing the wreck of the Dali ship and bridge debris from the Port of Baltimore, allowing the waterway to reopen in June.

Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer stated, "The settlement ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy and not the American taxpayer."

The National Transportation Safety Board reported in May that the Dali lost electrical power several times before crashing into the bridge on March 26. The FBI opened a criminal investigation into the disaster in April.

The Justice Department's lawsuit was part of a legal action initiated by Grace Ocean and Synergy to limit their liability for the crash to $44 million, an amount officials deemed "woefully inadequate."

The ship collided with a support pylon, causing the bridge to plunge into the river.

The reopening involved the removal of 50,000 tons of debris. Over 1,500 responders, along with 500 specialists from around the world, operated a fleet of boats during the operation, which included 56 federal, state, and local agencies. The state of Maryland estimates the bridge reconstruction will cost $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion, hoping to finish by fall 2028. Maryland has also filed separate claims against the companies for bridge reconstruction, cleanup expenses, environmental claims, and other costs.

Funds recovered by Maryland for reconstruction will be utilized to lower the project costs borne by the U.S. government, according to the DOJ.