The companies responsible for a ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused it collapse have agreed to pay $101 million.
Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited are the Singapore-based companies responsible for operating the Motor Vessel DAL.
The companies have agreed to a $101,980,000 settlement with the United States to cover clean-up costs after the tragic collapse of the bridge.
This settlement concludes the US government’s pursuit of civil damages. It totals $103,078,056, based on claims under the Rivers and Harbors Act, the Oil Pollution Act, and maritime law.
The funds will support the US Treasury and the budgets of several federal agencies that managed response efforts after the bridge collapse.
The Incident: A Catastrophic Power Failure
On March 26, the Motor Vessel DALI departed from the Port of Baltimore en route to Sri Lanka. Shortly after it had navigated the Fort McHenry Channel, it experienced a series of power failures.
This led to a devastating collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The impact led to the bridge’s collapse. It killed six people and left thousands of tons of debris in the channel. The disaster effectively shut down the Port of Baltimore.
The wreckage obstructed the critical waterway and disrupted both commercial shipping and local transportation routes.
Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career
Federal Response Efforts
A massive federal-led response began, involving dozens of agencies from federal, state, and local governments.
Over 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt were cleared from the Fort McHenry Channel and the DALI itself.
In a temporary solution, authorities created alternative routes to relieve some of the commercial bottlenecks caused by the closure of the port. By June 10, the channel was fully cleared, and the Port of Baltimore resumed normal operations.
Legal Actions and Settlement Details
On September 18, the Justice Department initiated a civil lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Maryland, seeking over $100 million in damages.
This claim was part of a larger legal dispute where the vessel operators sought to limit their liability to $43.7 million. The settlement represents an additional penalty, with Grace Ocean also having paid $97,294 to the Coast Guard National Pollution Fund Center to address the threat of oil pollution.
The settlement does not cover the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which remains the responsibility of the State of Maryland. State authorities have filed separate claims to secure funds for bridge repairs, with recovered funds earmarked to reduce federal taxpayer contributions to the reconstruction project.
The Path to Recovery
This landmark settlement emphasizes the Justice Department’s commitment to holding corporations accountable for environmental and infrastructure damages. The proactive response by federal agencies and quick settlement outcome ensured the financial burden fell to the responsible parties, securing public funds for future infrastructure and response efforts.
Justice Department’s Swift Response Ensures Accountability
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said:
“Nearly seven months after one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory, which claimed six lives and caused untold damage, we have reached an important milestone with today’s settlement.
“Thanks to the hard work of the Justice Department attorneys since day one of this disaster, we were able to secure this early settlement of our claim, just over one month into litigation.
“This resolution 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.”
