Serious Allegations After Bridge Disaster: US Justice Sues Shipping Company

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the owner and operator of the container ship that led to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge last March, resulting in the deaths of six workers. The incident paralyzed the Port of Baltimore for weeks. The complaint accuses the companies involved of actions that were "outrageous, grossly negligent, arbitrary, and reckless" prior to the disaster. The government is seeking compensation of over $100 million to cover the costs of extensive emergency measures and financial support for the unemployed port workers. Additionally, the lawsuit demands punitive damages, without specifying an exact amount. The case, which is pending before a federal court in Maryland, details the investigators' findings on the short and fateful voyage of the ship that night. It outlines a catalogue of onboard errors and describes several opportunities where the catastrophe could have been prevented. Due to poor maintenance or makeshift repairs of critical ship systems, including the propeller, rudder, anchor, and bow thruster, which were essential for controlling the ship, none of these systems functioned when urgently needed to prevent or at least mitigate the disaster, according to the lawsuit. The container ship, known as "Dali," is registered in Singapore and belongs to Grace Ocean, and is operated by Synergy Marine Group, both also based in Singapore.