Maryland has announced a lawsuit against the owners and management of the cargo ship Dali, following an incident that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and the shutdown of a busy port for months.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, Governor Wes Moore, and other state leaders revealed the lawsuit against Grace Ocean Private Limited, the Singapore-based owner of the cargo ship, and Synergy Marine Pte. Ltd., its operator. The state contends in the lawsuit that both companies did not take the necessary precautions to prevent the bridge’s collapse.
Governor Moore, in his remarks, stated that the incident on March 26 should not have occurred and thanked citizens for their quick response following the collapse. He emphasized that accountability would be pursued while continuing to take necessary actions.
The 56-page lawsuit, filed in federal court, outlines Maryland’s intention to seek punitive damages and compensation for various losses including the replacement cost of the bridge, lost revenues from tolls, fees, and taxes, indemnification, damages and attorneys’ fees, damages to natural resources, emergency response costs, and other economic losses resulting from the bridge’s destruction.
Attorney General Brown, who has been in office since 2023, emphasized that while the state will work to rebuild the bridge, Marylanders should not bear the financial burden of what he described as the “negligence and incompetence” of the ship’s owner and manager. Brown noted the significant loss of tax and toll revenues and the disruption to Maryland’s economy.
Attorneys for Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte. Ltd. did not respond to NPR’s request for comment on the lawsuit.
This state lawsuit follows a similar legal action by the Department of Justice, which also targets the owner and operator of the Dali. The federal lawsuit, filed on September 18, alleges negligence and dangerous cost-cutting measures leading to the cargo ship’s collision with the bridge. It highlights the emergency response efforts, including clearing approximately 50,000 tons of debris to establish a temporary channel for Port of Baltimore navigation.
The Department of Justice is seeking over $100 million in damages from the Singaporean companies, covering costs incurred by the U.S. in addressing the collapse, but excluding the reconstruction cost of the bridge. U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that the financial burden from the incident should fall on the responsible companies rather than American taxpayers.
The FBI has also initiated an investigation into the bridge collapse, separate from the National Transportation Safety Board’s inquiry, to determine if the ship’s crew was aware of any vessel malfunctions before departure.
This report was contributed to by NPR’s Bill Chappell.
