DALI Containership Collision: Repairs and Ongoing Litigation After Francis Scott Key Bridge Incident

The containership DALI arrived at Fuzhou Port in China on November 13 after a nearly two-month journey from Norfolk, Virginia. The vessel has already undergone some repairs and is scheduled for more extensive repairs at the Fujian Huadong Shipyard in the Luoyuan Bay Port Area.

The DALI became notorious for colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which led to significant portions of the bridge collapsing into the water. This incident resulted in the deaths of six workers and caused damages estimated between $1,7 and $1,9 billion.

The ship sustained severe damage when a section of the bridge fell onto its bow. Repair plans include a complete replacement of the bow due to the incident. Port officials noted that bringing the vessel into port was challenging because of the extensive damage. The DALI currently has no functioning anchors, and much of its machinery, including the thrusters, was damaged in the accident.

No timeline for the vessel’s repairs has been provided.

Meanwhile, litigation against the vessel’s owner and operator is ongoing and is expected to continue until mid-2026. The owner, Grace Ocean, and the operator, Synergy Marine, have cited an 1800s admiralty law to limit their liabilities to $44 million, while authorities argue that this law is outdated and are seeking full compensation for the damages incurred.

The DALI is a Singapore-flagged container ship built in 2015. It measures 299 meters in length, has a beam of 48,2 meters, and a gross tonnage of 95 128.