The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against two companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited. These companies owned and operated the ship that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland. The lawsuit is asking for more than $100 million. The goal is to cover the costs of reopening the Port of Baltimore and cleaning up the wreck after the tragic event.
What Happened to the Key Bridge
On March 26, the ship, called the Motor Vessel DALI, was leaving the Port of Baltimore on its way to Sri Lanka. While it was going through the Fort McHenry Channel, the ship lost power, then regained it, and lost it again. This caused the ship to crash into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge collapsed into the water, killing six workers. The wreckage blocked the shipping lanes and shut down the port, causing major problems for the area’s transportation.
The U.S. government led a huge effort to clear the wreckage. This included 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt from the bridge and the ship. The cleanup allowed the port to reopen on June 10, more than two months later.
Claims of Negligence
The Justice Department says that the companies knew the ship had problems but did not fix them. The lawsuit claims that there were vibrations on the ship that could cause it to lose power. Instead of making repairs, the companies ignored the risks. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said that “negligence, mismanagement, and, at times, a desire to cut costs” led to the disaster.
The lawsuit also says the ship’s safety systems failed when they were needed. The systems that could have helped steer the ship, like the propeller and rudder, did not work. The lawsuit calls this disaster avoidable and says it was caused by poor decision-making.
DOJ Seeks Over $100 Million
The DOJ is asking for more than $100 million to pay for the costs of reopening the Port of Baltimore and clearing the wreck. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring accountability for those responsible for the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which resulted in the tragic deaths of six people and disrupted our country’s transportation and defense infrastructure.”
The Justice Department is also asking for punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the companies for their actions. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Chetan Patil said the companies made “careless and grossly negligent decisions” by sending an unfit ship into a major waterway.
Key Bridge Collapse Impact on the Port of Baltimore
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge had a huge impact on the Port of Baltimore, which is one of the largest ports on the East Coast. The port is very important for shipping and trade. The collapse stopped all port activity for over two months, which caused major problems for businesses that depend on the port.
Rear Admiral Laura M. Dickey of the U.S. Coast Guard praised the quick response by federal, state, and local agencies. They were able to open alternative channels and restore some shipping traffic while the port was shut down. However, the full reopening did not happen until more than two months after the collapse.
Rear Admiral Dickey said, “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.”
Legal Actions and Accountability
The DOJ filed the lawsuit after the ship’s owners tried to limit their liability to $44 million. The Justice Department is pushing for much more, arguing that the companies were responsible for the disaster. The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages to prevent this kind of disaster from happening again.
The lawsuit does not cover the cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge. That will be handled by the State of Maryland, which is expected to file its own claim. Any money recovered from the state’s lawsuit will help reduce the costs that federal taxpayers will have to cover for the bridge’s reconstruction.
The claims made in the lawsuit are still only allegations at this point. The court has not yet determined who is legally responsible. As the legal process continues, the Justice Department aims to hold those responsible accountable for the disaster.
