The US Justice Department has filed a civil lawsuit on Wednesday seeking $103 million in damages from two Singaporean companies that owned and operated the container ship involved in the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, were responsible for the ship, the Dali, which crashed into the bridge on March 26, resulting in the deaths of six people and significant disruption to transportation in the Northeast.
The Justice Department is seeking to recover the costs incurred by the U.S. government in responding to the disaster,including the removal of the wreck and bridge debris from the Port of Baltimore.
“This was an entirely avoidable catastrophe,” said Brian Boynton, head of the department’s Civil Division. “The owner and operator of the Dali made a series of eminently foreseeable errors.”
In addition to compensatory damages, the department is also seeking punitive damages, accusing the companies of negligence.
According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Dali experienced multiple power failures before the collision. The FBI has also launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
In a statement, the companies said they would defend themselves against the lawsuit but declined to comment further on the merits of the case.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit was filed in response to a legal action initiated by Grace Ocean and Synergy to limit their liability to $44 million, a sum that department officials deemed “woefully inadequate.”
Brawner Builders, the construction company that employed the six workers who died in the bridge collapse, also filed a civil claim against the Singaporean companies.
The company is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for the deaths of its employees and the loss of equipment.
The bridge collapse caused significant damage and required extensive repairs. The state of Maryland estimates the cost of rebuilding the bridge to be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, with completion expected by fall 2028.
Boluwatife Enome
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