The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated legal action against the owner and operator of the Dali, the ship responsible for the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, seeks $100 million in damages to cover the costs of emergency response and debris removal necessary to reopen the Port of Baltimore.

The defendants named in the suit are Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, both Singaporean corporations that owned and operated the Dali. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General C. Mizer stated, “The owner and operator of the DALI were well aware of vibration issues on the vessel that could cause a power outage. But instead of taking necessary precautions, they did the opposite.”

According to the lawsuit, all four steering mechanisms that should have been available to control the Dali failed during the incident. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton described the collapse as “an entirely avoidable catastrophe, resulting from a series of eminently foreseeable errors made by the owner and operator of the Dali.”

This legal action represents a significant step in holding responsible parties accountable for the bridge collapse, which has had major economic and infrastructural impacts on the Baltimore area. The case underscores the importance of maritime safety and the potential consequences of neglecting known issues on large vessels.

As the legal proceedings unfold, they are likely to draw attention to maritime regulations, vessel maintenance practices, and the responsibilities of ship owners and operators in preventing such catastrophic events.