The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil lawsuit against the owners and operators of the containership M/V DALI, seeking over $100 million in damages for the March 26, 2024 collision that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The lawsuit targets Grace Ocean Private Limited, the ship’s owner, and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, its technical manager.
The incident resulted in the tragic loss of six construction workers’ lives and injured two others. The collision also obstructed the federal Fort McHenry shipping channel, blocking access to the Port of Baltimore and disrupting critical transportation and defence infrastructure.
According to the Justice Department, the tragedy was “entirely avoidable” and alleges that the DALI’s electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained and configured, violating safety regulations and international shipping norms.
The lawsuit highlights a series of failures, including power losses and malfunctioning safety features, that led to the collision.
Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the DALI experienced two unexpected electrical blackouts before the collision, causing the ship to lose electrical power and propulsion. The ship’s crew was able to restore power, but a second blackout occurred, leading to the collision.
The Justice Department argued that the ship’s owners and managers “must be held fully accountable for the catastrophic harm they caused, and punitive damages should be imposed to deter such misconduct”.
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