Maryland settles with owner and operator of ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Key Bridge
ANNAPOLIS, MD. (AP) — Maryland has reached a settlement with the owner and operator of a massive cargo ship. crashed into baltimore bridge caused the fatal collapse two years ago, state officials announced Thursday.
Attorney General Anthony Brown said an agreement in principle had been reached with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, the owner and operator of the M/V Dali. The agreement resolves some of the state’s claims arising from the ship’s collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024.
“For two years, Maryland workers, their families and communities have borne the weight of a disaster that should never have happened,” Brown said in a news release. He did not provide details of the deal.
The attorney general noted that Dali’s collision with the bridge “disrupted the Port of Baltimore, devastated livelihoods, and sent economic shockwaves through our state that are still being felt today.”
“Our work is far from over, but this settlement is an important step toward integrating Maryland,” Brown said.
The companies confirmed in a joint statement that significant progress had been made in resolving the claims. The statement said that over the past week, they reached “two significant settlement agreements with the State of Maryland and ACE American Insurance Company that underscore their commitment to providing a reasonable and structured outcome to this unfortunate event.”
The $350 million settlement with the insurance company matched the amount ACE paid Maryland; this was an amount representing the state policy limit.
“These settlements represent an important step towards resolving the complex litigation surrounding this incident, and the Owners and Managers remain open to negotiating in good faith with other interested parties with significant claims to reach equitable resolutions,” the joint statement said.
Maryland Transportation Authority late last year I guessed the price range. The cost of a new bridge alone is expected to be between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, and opening to traffic is expected in late 2030.
The attorney general’s office said the settlement did not resolve any claims the state might have against shipbuilder Hyundai.
The ship was about to leave Baltimore for Sri Lanka when its steering malfunctioned. a loss of power. Six people from the road crew filling potholes during the night shift fell to their deaths when the bridge collapsed.
The demands of the state, The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland in September 2024, alleged that the disaster occurred as a result of negligence, mismanagement and careless operation of a ship that was not seaworthy and should never have left port.
The state sought damages on behalf of its agencies for the bridge collapse, damage to the Patapsco River and surrounding environment, lost revenue, and far-reaching economic losses suffered by Maryland and its residents.
The collapse brought shipping at the Port of Baltimore to a complete halt, disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of workers, diverting traffic to communities already bearing disproportionate burdens, and triggering economic ripple effects still being felt across the state, the attorney general’s office noted.
Bridge, a longstanding Baltimore landmarkIt was a vital piece of transportation infrastructure that allowed drivers to bypass the city center with ease. The original 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) steel span took five years to build and opened to traffic in 1977. This was especially important for the city’s port operations.
