Baltimore Bridge collapse: Owner and management of a cargo ship are charged with negligence

The mayor and city council of Baltimore filed court documents on Monday, arguing that the owner and management of the enormous cargo ship that collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month should be held entirely responsible for the fatal accident.

Shortly after the March 26 crash, the two firms petitioned the court to limit their culpability under an 1851 maritime law’s pre-Civil War clause. This is a standard but significant step for situations of this kind. In the end, who is at fault and how much they owe in what might turn out to be one of the most costly maritime accidents in history will be determined by a federal court in Maryland.

based in Singapore The boat that went off course and crashed into the bridge is called the Dali, and it is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. The ship’s management is Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., which is also situated in Singapore.

Attorneys for the city accused the corporations of carelessness in their petition on Monday, claiming that among other things, they should have recognized that the Dali was not suited for its intended cruise and should have staffed the ship with a qualified crew.

On Monday, a representative for the firms said that discussing the ongoing legal dispute would be unsuitable.

Shortly after departing Baltimore, the ship lost power and collided with one of the support columns of the bridge, resulting in the collapse of the span and the deaths of six roadwork crew members. The ship was bound for Sri Lanka.

According to the city’s lawsuit, “cargo ships made thousands of trips under the Key Bridge every year without incident for more than 40 years.” “March 26, 2024, was not a significant event that should have altered that.”

Amidst a criminal probe, FBI agents boarded the grounded ship last week. According to sources, a second federal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board will look into whether the ship had power problems before to embarking on its journey. The electrical system of the Dali will be the main subject of that inquiry.

Grace Ocean and Synergy had previously petitioned to have their liability capped at around $43.6 million. According to the petition, the vessel is estimated to be worth up to $90 million, and over $1.1 million in freight money was owed. Two significant expenditures are also subtracted from the estimate: salvage charges of at least $19.5 million and repair costs of at least $28 million.

Recently, Grace Ocean has started a procedure that requires cargo owners to pay a portion of the salvage expenses. A third-party adjuster may establish the appropriate contribution from each stakeholder by using the “general average” statement that the corporation made.

The majority of marine business through the Port of Baltimore has been suspended, and a crucial east coast freight route has been hampered. Baltimore authorities contend that the ship’s owner and management should be held accountable for their part in the catastrophe. According to the petition, the Baltimore area may suffer greatly economically.

The lawyers said that the petitioners’ carelessness resulted in the destruction of the Key Bridge and the port’s closure on their own. The port provided employment, money to the city, and a great deal of pride for Baltimore’s citizens.

Attorneys for the collapse’s victims and their families have also promised to hold the corporations responsible and to reject their plea for limited accountability.

Salvage teams are now attempting to clear the Patapsco River of thousands of tons of fallen steel and concrete. The port’s main shipping channel is anticipated to be closed for a few more weeks, despite the opening of three temporary channels to facilitate vessel traffic.