The US Justice Department has initiated a civil lawsuit demanding over $100 million in damages from Grace Ocean Private Limited, the owner of the Singapore-flagged containership M/V DALI, and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, the ship’s technical manager. This lawsuit follows the catastrophic incident on March 26, 2024, when the M/V DALI collided with and destroyed part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The crash caused the deaths of six construction workers, injuries to two others, and major disruption to the federal Fort McHenry shipping channel, hindering access to the Port of Baltimore and affecting vital transportation and defense infrastructure.
The lawsuit claims that the accident was “entirely avoidable” and occurred due to negligence by the ship’s operators in failing to properly maintain the vessel’s electrical and mechanical systems, which were in violation of safety regulations and international standards. Specifically, the DALI experienced multiple power losses and system malfunctions that led to the fatal collision. On the day of the incident, the ship lost electrical power and propulsion as it approached the bridge, causing it to crash into a piling, leading to the partial collapse of the bridge.
Source: REUTERS/Mike Segar
A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also revealed that the vessel had suffered two separate electrical failures the previous day while docked in port, highlighting ongoing issues with the ship’s systems.
The Justice Department asserts that the ship’s owners and operators should be held fully accountable for the immense damage and loss of life caused by their failures. In addition to demanding more than $100 million in damages, the lawsuit also seeks punitive measures to prevent future misconduct and ensure stricter compliance with safety protocols. The defendants are currently seeking to limit their liability to less than $44 million, but the US government is pushing for full responsibility to be taken by those in charge of the unseaworthy vessel.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety standards of commercial shipping in US waterways, with the government calling for stronger oversight and accountability in maintaining vessel safety to prevent such tragedies in the future.
