A federal court in Maryland will ultimately decide who’s responsible and how much they owe in what could become one of the most expensive maritime disasters in history. The owner and manager of the massive container ship that took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month are facing legal action for the deadly collapse.
Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd. owns the Dali, the vessel that veered off course and slammed into the bridge. Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., also based in Singapore, is the ship’s manager. Attorneys for the city of Baltimore have accused them of negligence, arguing that the companies should have realized the Dali was unfit for its voyage and manned the ship with a competent crew.
The ship was headed to Sri Lanka when it lost power shortly after leaving Baltimore and struck one of the bridge’s support columns, causing the collapse and resulting in the deaths of six roadwork crew members. The incident has halted most maritime traffic through the Port of Baltimore and disrupted an important east coast trucking route, leading to devastating economic impacts for the region.
FBI agents have boarded the stalled ship as part of a criminal investigation, while the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a separate inquiry into the ship’s electrical system. Grace Ocean and Synergy have sought to cap their liability at roughly USD 43.6 million, but Baltimore leaders and victims’ families are pushing back, demanding full accountability and opposing the request for limited liability.
Salvage crews are currently working to remove the debris from the Patapsco River, but the main shipping channel is expected to remain closed for several more weeks. The legal battle over responsibility and compensation for the disaster is just beginning, with the fate of the companies and the future of the Port of Baltimore hanging in the balance.