US Justice Department files lawsuit against Singapore ship owner for Baltimore bridge destruction

UNITED STATES: The US Justice Department has filed a civil lawsuit seeking over US$100 million from the Singapore owner and operator of the cargo ship M/V Dali, which was involved in the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The incident, which occurred on 26 March, resulted in the tragic deaths of six road workers and obstructed a crucial shipping channel. https://www.tiktok.com/@gutzyasia/video/7350953097834941704?lang=zh-Hant-TW The lawsuit was submitted to the US District Court for the District of Maryland against Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine Private. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the commitment of the Justice Department to hold accountable those responsible for the incident. "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," he stated. The lawsuit aims to recover costs exceeding US$100 million associated with the disaster response and the removal of tons of debris from the bridge. DOJ highlighted the US governement led the response efforts of dozens of federal, state, and local agencies to remove about 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt from the channel and from the DALI itself. According to officials, the Dali lost power while departing the Port of Baltimore for Sri Lanka, leading to its collision with the bridge. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer criticized the owner and operator of the Dali, noting their awareness of vibration issues that could lead to power outages. "Instead of taking necessary precautions, they did the opposite. " "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," Mizer explained. This misconfiguration resulted in a series of failures that culminated in the disaster. The Justice Department's lawsuit follows a separate legal action filed by Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine earlier this year, where they sought to limit their liability to US$44 million. Notably, the current lawsuit does not address the costs of rebuilding the bridge, which Maryland officials plan to claim separately. The families of the deceased road workers are also pursuing their own legal claims. Following the incident, the Fort McHenry channel leading to the Port of Baltimore—an essential hub for the auto industry—successfully reopened to commercial navigation on June 10.