$102 Million Settlement in Baltimore Bridge Collapse

The U.S. Department of Justice has secured a $102 million settlement from Singaporean companies Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, following the catastrophic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge caused by their ship, the MV Dali. The incident, which occurred on March 26, 2024, resulted in six fatalities and significant disruption to shipping channels at the Port of Baltimore, necessitating extensive cleanup efforts that involved the removal of 50,000 tons of debris. Although the companies deny liability, they agreed to the settlement to cover the federal government's cleanup costs. The state of Maryland estimates the total reconstruction cost of the bridge at $1.7 to $1.9 billion and has filed separate claims against the companies. The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the disaster, and the National Transportation Safety Board reported that the Dali experienced multiple power failures prior to the crash. The settlement does not include compensation for the bridge reconstruction, which will be pursued separately by Maryland.