Owners of ship that crashed into Francis Scott Key Bridge to pay $102m for clean-up

The MV Dali struck a pier supporting the main steel truss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on 26 March 2024 The MV Dali struck a pier supporting the main steel truss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on 26 March 2024 (Image: TNS/ABACA via Reuters Connect)

The Singaporean companies that own the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, have agreed to pay £102m to resolve a civil claim brought by the US government.

The steel arch continuous through truss bridge partially collapsed on 26 March this year after the MV Dali container ship lost power and struck a pier supporting the main truss section.

The US Justice Department announced last week that Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private would pay the sum to cover federal costs to restore access to the Port of Baltimore.

The United States led the response efforts of dozens of federal, state, and local agencies to remove about 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt from the channel and from the Dali itself.

Temporary channels were also set up to start relieving the bottleneck at the port. The Fort McHenry Channel was cleared by 10 June, and the Port of Baltimore was once again open for commercial navigation.

Principal deputy associate attorney general Benjamin C. Mizer said, “Nearly seven months after one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory, which claimed six lives and caused untold damage, we have reached an important milestone with today’s settlement.

“Thanks to the hard work of the Justice Department attorneys since day one of this disaster, we were able to secure this early settlement of our claim, just over one month into litigation. This resolution ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy and not the American taxpayer.”

The settlement does not include any damages for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The State of Maryland built, owned, maintained, and operated the bridge, and attorneys on the state’s behalf filed their own claim for those damages.

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