The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of the cargo ship involved in the Baltimore bridge collapse, aiming to recover over $100 million spent on clearing underwater debris and reopening the city’s port.
The lawsuit, submitted in Maryland on Wednesday, alleges that the ship, named the Dali, suffered a loss of power due to improper maintenance of its electrical and mechanical systems. This malfunction caused the vessel to veer off course and strike a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, according to Xinhua news agency.
“This tragedy was entirely avoidable,” the lawsuit states. The incident disrupted commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore for months, with the channel remaining fully closed until June.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the government’s stance, stating, “With this civil claim, the Justice Department is working to ensure that the costs of clearing the channel and reopening the Port of Baltimore are borne by the companies that caused the crash, not by the American taxpayer.”
The lawsuit targets Dali’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and its manager, Synergy Marine Group, both based in Singapore. Following the collapse, the companies filed a court petition to limit their legal liability, potentially making this case one of the most expensive marine casualty incidents in history.
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