In a landmark settlement, the owners of a Singapore-flagged cargo ship have agreed to pay $102 million to the U.S. government after the vessel collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, tragically killing six people. The collision, involving the Dali cargo ship, sent a section of the iconic bridge crashing into the Patapsco River, sparking a massive cleanup effort. The National Transportation Safety Board reported in May that the Dali had experienced multiple electrical failures leading up to the collision.
The U.S. Justice Department had initially filed a $103 million claim against the ship’s owners, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, seeking to cover government expenses for response efforts and debris removal that allowed the channel to reopen by June. More than 1,500 responders, supported by 500 specialists from across the globe, coordinated with 56 agencies to clear the 50,000 tons of wreckage from the Port of Baltimore.
As part of the settlement, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer highlighted that this agreement shifts the cleanup costs back onto the companies responsible, rather than the American public.
The crash remains under investigation, with the FBI launching a criminal probe shortly after the accident. Maryland state authorities, grappling with the staggering $1.7 to $1.9 billion bridge reconstruction price tag, have also filed separate claims against Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine to cover additional costs, including environmental impacts. Recovered funds will help Maryland offset the massive reconstruction project, slated for completion by fall 2028.
