Two Singaporean companies who owned the ship that rammed into and brought down Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge have agreed to pay just under $102m to settle a claim filed by the US government.
Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine will pay $101,980,000 toward costs borne by the government to restore access to the Port of Baltimore and remove about 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt from the channel and the vessel itself.
The US made its claim on 18 September after the 300m-long container ship, Dali, headed from the port to Sri Lanka, lost power twice and struck one of the bridge’s piers, causing it to collapse at around 1.30am on 26 March.
Six people carrying out maintenance on the bridge fell into the water and died. Two people were rescued from the river.
Shortly after the incident, the companies sought exoneration or to limit their liability to around $43.7m, the Department of Justice said.
The settlement does not include any damages for the bridge’s reconstruction.
Other claims
The State of Maryland, which built and owned the bridge, has filed its own claim for damages, according to the justice department. The bridge is expected to cost $1.9bn to replace over the next four years.
The New York Times reports that families of three of the men who were killed have said they are suing, as is the construction firm that employed the maintenance workers, and several other companies that depend on port traffic for commerce.
The city of Baltimore has also filed a lawsuit against Grace Ocean and Synergy.
Shipping halted
The wreckage brought all shipping into and out of the Port of Baltimore to a standstill until 10 June.
The loss of the bridge also severed a critical highway in the city and blocked a key artery for local commuters.
“This is a tremendous outcome that fully compensates the United States for the costs it incurred in responding to this disaster and holds the owner and operator of the Dali accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“The prompt resolution of this matter also avoids the expense associated with litigating this complex case for potentially years.”
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