The owners of the container ship that crashed into Baltimore’s iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge have been ordered to pay over $100 million in damages to the U.S. government, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the companies that owned and operated the vessel Dali, have agreed to the settlement, concluding a civil lawsuit that had been ongoing for months.
The collision, which occurred on March 26, tragically claimed the lives of six construction workers who were repairing the bridge. The crash also unleashed massive amounts of debris into the Patapsco River, prompting federal agencies to describe the event as “one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory.”
“This settlement is a significant victory, ensuring that the U.S. is fully compensated for the costs of responding to this tragic incident. It also holds the owners and operators of the Dali accountable,” said Brian Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s civil division, in a press release on Thursday.
The $100 million payment will be directed to the U.S. Treasury and other federal agencies that were either impacted by the disaster or involved in the massive response effort. The Department of Justice clarified, however, that the settlement does not cover damages related to the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge itself. The state of Maryland has filed a separate claim for those expenses.
An investigation by U.S. authorities attributed the incident to critical failures in the ship’s electrical and mechanical systems. It was determined that the Dali had not been adequately maintained, leading to a loss of power and the eventual collision with a bridge column. The six workers who perished were thrown into the river after the ship’s impact compromised the structure of the bridge.
In the aftermath of the disaster, authorities launched a massive recovery effort, working with multiple federal, state, and local agencies to clear approximately 50,000 tons of debris— including steel, concrete, and asphalt—from both the shipping channel and the damaged ship. The Patapsco River and the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest in the U.S., were paralyzed for months, causing widespread economic disruption. The port finally reopened for commercial traffic in June.
The tragic incident also crippled a key route for local commuters, adding further strain on the region’s transportation network.
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