With lawsuits piling up against the owner of the cargo ship that crashed into and destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the State of Maryland has thrown its hat into the ring.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, on behalf of the state and all its agencies, filed suit against owner Grace Ocean Private Limited and manager Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. of the ship Dali for causing its collision with the Key Bridge in March.
This follows previously announced lawsuits from the U.S. Justice Department and the families of workers who were killed in the crash. The contractor whose six workers were killed in the crash is also suing, as is an inspector on the bridge who was supervising repairs to the bridge when the collapse occurred.
Wreckage from the bridge fell into the Patapsco River, blocking access to most of the Port of Baltimore and causing significant economic disruptions. The collapse of the bridge killed six workers.
The Dali left the Baltimore Port on June 24, three months after it caused the fatal bridge collapse. By early June, the 50,000 tons of debris left from the ship strike had been removed, and the port channel became clear.
“For the past six months, and into the foreseeable future, Marylanders have had and will continue to shoulder the costs and burden caused by the misconduct of Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. We have grieved the loss of six lives and mourned alongside their families. We have endured increased traffic and altered work commutes, degrading even the quality of the air we breathe. Our state has lost valuable tax and toll revenues, and Maryland's economy has been disrupted," said Brown. “Maryland will rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, but Marylanders should not have to pay for the Dali owner's and manager's negligence and incompetence.”
The crash was caused, according to the State of Maryland, because the Dali experienced two electrical power failures, causing it to lose propulsion and its ability to steer. Additionally, a series of other errors – including failing backup equipment, the crew’s failure to restore power and the pilots’ requests not followed in time – contributed to the crash. The state alleges the ship's management and crew intentionally circumvented critical safety features.
