The impact resulted in the bridge’s collapse, causing the deaths of six individuals. The incident not only claimed lives but also blocked the navigable channel, halting all shipping operations at the Port of Baltimore and disrupting a vital transportation route for local commuters.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit in the District Court for Maryland against Singaporean companies Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited. These companies own and operate the container ship involved in the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
On March 26, the Motor Vessel DALI departed the Port of Baltimore, heading for Sri Lanka. While navigating the Fort McHenry Channel, the ship experienced multiple power failures, ultimately leading it to collide with the bridge. The impact resulted in the bridge’s collapse, causing the deaths of six individuals. The incident not only claimed lives but also blocked the navigable channel, halting all shipping operations at the Port of Baltimore and disrupting a vital transportation route for local commuters.
“The owner and operator of the DALI were well aware of vibration issues on the vessel that could cause a power outage. But instead of taking necessary precautions, they did the opposite,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Out of negligence, mismanagement, and, at times, a desire to cut costs, they configured the ship’s electrical and mechanical systems in a way that prevented those systems from being able to quickly restore propulsion and steering after a power outage. As a result, when the DALI lost power, a cascading set of failures led to disaster.”
The lawsuit seeks to recover over $100 million in federal expenses related to the disaster response and debris removal efforts. The U.S. coordinated with various federal, state, and local agencies to clear approximately 50,000 tons of wreckage from the waterway. In addition to removing the debris, temporary channels were established to alleviate port congestion, and by June 10, the Fort McHenry Channel was cleared, allowing commercial navigation to resume.
The lawsuit asserts that the DALI’s navigational equipment—including the propeller, rudder, anchor, and bow thruster—failed to function at critical moments, contributing to the disaster. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Chetan Patil criticized the companies for their "careless and grossly negligent decisions," stating they recklessly sent an unseaworthy vessel into a crucial waterway, disregarding the potential risks to lives and infrastructure.
“Wholly preventable failures by the owner and operator of the DALI caused this tragic incident that cost six bridge construction workers their lives and closed one of the largest ports on the East Coast,” said Rear Admiral Laura M. Dickey, Deputy for Operations Capability and Policy of the U.S. Coast Guard. “The Coast Guard quickly responded by establishing a Unified Command with federal, state, and local stakeholders to rapidly open alternative channels and restore the Port of Baltimore to full operations in just over two months. We stand ready to support the Justice Department to ensure that those responsible for this tragedy pay the costs of reopening the Port.”
This legal action follows a separate claim initiated by the vessel’s owners, who are seeking to limit their liability to approximately $44 million. Notably, the Department of Justice’s lawsuit does not address damages for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is owned and maintained by the State of Maryland. The state is expected to file its own claim for reconstruction costs, with any recovered funds aimed at reducing the financial burden on federal taxpayers.
The Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, “With this civil claim, the Justice Department is working to ensure that the costs of clearing the channel and reopening the Port of Baltimore are borne by the companies that caused the crash, not by the American taxpayer.”
The United States is represented in this case by attorneys from the Civil Division’s Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation Section, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
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