Court ruling or official DOJ statement

DOJ Sues Singapore-Flagged Dali Ship Owner for $100M Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Six Deaths

Sep 18, 2024, 03:56 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit seeking over $100 million against the owner and operator of the Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March. The lawsuit alleges that the bridge collapse, which killed six workers, was entirely avoidable and resulted from negligence and mismanagement by the ship's operators, Synergy & Grace Ocean Private Limited. The DOJ claims that the Dali was 'abjectly unseaworthy' and had known electrical and mechanical issues that were ignored, leading to the ship losing power and veering off course. The government is seeking to recover the costs incurred for clearing the wreckage and reopening the port, as well as punitive damages for the reckless conduct of the ship's owner and operator.