On Tuesday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and state Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, filed a lawsuit against the owners and operators of the M/V Dali for damages the state incurred during the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
In March, the M/V Dali lost power and collided with the bridge which later collapsed into the Baltimore harbor, killing six men and shutting down the waterway for months. In its suit, the state claims the owners of the cargo ship, Grace Ocean Private Limited – and the ship’s operators – Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., – caused the collapse which resulted to immediate and long-lasting harm to the state and its residents.
“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,” Brown said. “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 lawsuit, filed on behalf of the state of Maryland and all its agencies, including the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), seeks compensation for replacement of the bridge; all costs associated with the emergency response, salvage, demolition, and benefits paid to affected workers and businesses; lost revenues; indemnification, damages, and attorneys’ fees; damage to the state’s natural resources; all costs related to environmental contamination and penalties; increased wear and tear on the state’s infrastructure; and other costs associated with the destruction of the bridge.
“Marylanders rallied and moved in partnership to take bold action following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. But the presence of action doesn’t mean the absence of accountability. We can – and we will – pursue both at the same time,” Moore said. “We will continue to work together to come back from this historic catastrophe, rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and make Marylanders whole.”
According to the lawsuit, the M/V Dali lost power twice immediately before the allisionwhich caused the ship to lose propulsion and steering. Additionally, the state said in its filing, the ship’s back-up equipment failed and the pilot’s requests to engage a bow thruster and drop anchor were not followed in time to avoid the collision.
“The State’s investigation has revealed that this massive disaster was entirely preventable,” the state said in a press release. “The Dali had experienced two power failures the day before the allision. The ship’s owner and operator failed to diagnose or correct these failures prior to leaving its berth and neglected to report them to the two pilots who boarded the ship to guide its departure from the Port.