The city of Baltimore has filed a court document accusing Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the parent company of the Dali cargo ship, of gross and potentially criminal negligence in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26th.
The crash, which occurred as the ship was leaving the Port of Baltimore, resulted in the deaths of six construction workers on the bridge. Baltimore is seeking to hold Grace Ocean fully liable for the collapse and the subsequent damage to the city and its economy.
In the court filing, Baltimore alleges that Grace Ocean failed to maintain the Dali in a seaworthy condition and that the ship’s crew was aware of technical or operational issues before leaving the port. The city also claims that Grace Ocean ignored multiple warning signs and continued its departure despite the risks.
Grace Ocean has filed its own federal lawsuit seeking to limit its liability to just $43.7 million, a figure far smaller than the billions of dollars expected in costs to clear the Baltimore Port and construct a new bridge.
Baltimore’s legal action is the latest development in what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle over who should be held responsible for the collapse. The FBI is also continuing to investigate the incident.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse has had a devastating impact on Baltimore. The bridge is a critical link between the city and the Port of Baltimore, and its closure has caused significant economic hardship for businesses and residents. The city is seeking to hold Grace Ocean accountable for the collapse and to recover the costs of rebuilding the bridge and restoring the port to full operation.
