Department of Justice Files Lawsuit for $100 Million Against Cargo Ship Involved in Baltimore Bridge Collision

September 18, 2024 TruthUSA

In the complaint, the DOJ accused the owner and operator of negligence, stating that the vessel was in an ‘unseaworthy condition.’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) took legal action against the owner and manager of the cargo ship involved in the collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March. The aim is to recover over $100 million spent by authorities to clear the debris from the bridge collapse and reopen the port.

The lawsuit, announced on Sept. 18 by the DOJ, alleges that the cargo ship Dali had technical issues due to poor maintenance and improper configuration, leading to a loss of power and deviation from its course resulting in the collision. This tragic incident caused the loss of six lives.

“This tragedy could have been prevented,” as per the DOJ’s complaint filed in a Maryland district court. The complaint highlights that the DALI’s electrical and mechanical systems were not properly maintained and configured, violating safety standards for international shipping, leading to the catastrophic event.

An allision is when a moving vessel hits a stationary object or vessel.

The DOJ is seeking damages over $100 million from the ship’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and its manager, Synergy Marine Group, both based in Singapore.

Legal representatives for the companies, who submitted a petition shortly after the incident to limit their liability to about $43.6 million, did not respond to requests for comments.

Alleged Negligence

Citing the vessel’s “unseaworthy condition,” the complaint asserts that none of the ship’s means of control – the propeller, rudder, anchor, and bow thruster – were functioning properly to avert the collision.

“The lawsuit aims to recover the costs incurred by the United States in responding to this disaster, including the removal of bridge parts and potential oil pollution,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton from the DOJ’s Civil Division.

As per the complaint, a Maryland-licensed pilot was guiding the Dali out of Baltimore on March 26 when the ship lost power due to transformer failure caused by long-term vibration issues. Although a backup transformer should have restored power automatically, this safety mechanism had been disabled, the complaint explained.

After ship engineers managed to briefly regain power by manually resetting breakers, the Dali experienced a second power loss due to an incorrect fuel pump setup to reduce costs, according to the DOJ.

The cleanup and recovery following the collision involved numerous federal, state, and local agencies and exceeded $100 million in taxpayer expenses. The DOJ seeks reimbursement from the companies for these costs and proposes additional punitive damages to prevent future negligent behavior.

Additionally, the families of the six construction workers who lost their lives in the incident plan to pursue legal action against the Dali’s owner and manager, asserting negligence and oversight of ship issues before the incident.

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