The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against Singaporean corporations Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, owners and operators of the container ship that destroyed the Baltimore bridge, the Francis Scott Key.
DOJ lawsuit after Baltimore bridge collapse
The accident occurred in the early morning of March 26, when the vessel DALI vessel DALI departed the port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka. During its navigation, the ship lost and regained power several times before colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and subsequently sink in the fairway. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of six people, in addition to causing a total disruption in port operations and cutting off a major shipping lane.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the liability of the ship’s operators,“With this civil lawsuit, the Department of Justice is working to ensure that the costs of cleaning up the channel and reopening the Port of Baltimore are borne by the companies that caused the accident, not the American taxpayer.” The government led the response operationsincluding the removal of 50,000 tons of steel, concrete and asphalt from the canal and DALI itself.
The lawsuit alleges that both Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine knew of “vibration problems on the vessel” that could cause a loss of power, but failed to take the necessary measures to prevent the disaster. The investigation revealed that the ship’s electrical and mechanical systems failed to function properly during the accident, preventing critical maneuvers, such as the use of the rudder, anchor and bow thruster.
Moreover, the DOJ is seeking punitive damages to deter similar behavior in the future, noting that“the accident was the result of negligent decisions and lack of maintenance” of the vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard was actively involved in the response to the accident, establishing alternate channels to restore the Baltimore port to operation in just over two months.
The claim filed by the Department of Justice does not include damages related to the reconstruction of the bridge because the infrastructure was owned by the State of Maryland. The funds recovered by Maryland for the reconstruction will be used to offset the costs paid with federal taxpayer money.
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Source: DOJ
Photo: Shutterstock
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