Baltimore Sues Owners of Ship That Crashed into Bridge, Sparking Criminal Probe
Baltimore city officials have filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of the container ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, killing six people. The lawsuit, filed Monday, alleges negligence and claims the companies should be held fully liable for the disaster.
The ship, named Dali, is owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and managed by Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., also based in Singapore. The lawsuit accuses the companies of failing to properly maintain the ship and failing to ensure that it was manned 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, collapsing the span and sending six members of a roadwork crew plunging to their deaths.
A spokesperson for the companies said Monday that it would be inappropriate to comment on the pending litigation.
The FBI is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a separate federal probe. The NTSB’s investigation will focus on the ship’s electrical system and whether it experienced power issues before starting its voyage.
In a separate filing, Grace Ocean and Synergy sought to cap their liability at roughly $43.6 million. However, Baltimore leaders argue that the companies should be held responsible for their role in the disaster, which has halted most maritime traffic through the Port of Baltimore and disrupted an important east coast trucking route.
The economic impacts of the bridge collapse could be devastating for the Baltimore region, the lawsuit says.
“Petitioners’ negligence caused them to destroy the Key Bridge, and singlehandedly shut down the Port of Baltimore, a source of jobs, municipal revenue, and no small amount of pride for the City of Baltimore and its residents,” the attorneys wrote.
Lawyers representing victims of the collapse and their families have also pledged to hold the companies accountable and oppose their request for limited liability.
In the meantime, salvage crews are working to remove thousands of tons of collapsed steel and concrete from the Patapsco River. They’ve opened three temporary channels to allow some vessels to pass through the area, but the port’s main shipping channel is expected to remain closed for several more weeks.
