Maryland sues ship owners for Baltimore bridge disaster 

By STEVEN JACOBS JR. and MORGAN LEASON

BALTIMORE–The Maryland attorney general announced Tuesday that he is filing suit against the owners and operators of the container ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River last spring.

Atty. Gen. Anthony Brown said in a news conference that the state wants to hold Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited accountable for the tragic loss of life and undetermined economic and emotional damage to residents.

“It was their gross negligence in putting a ship … to sea that was not seaworthy,” Brown said.

“Leaving Marylanders to pay for this tragedy cannot and will not stand,” he added.

The state’s lawsuit does not name a dollar figure it is seeking. Brown said it will take more time to figure out the full cost incurred by the state, which could include lost revenue in taxes as well as costs of supply chain disruption; damage to roads, air and water quality; emergency response; and bridge cleanup and reconstruction. Already, the U.S. Department of Justice has filed its own federal suit seeking $100 million in damages.

“No dollar value will truly compensate Marylanders for the loss,” Brown said. “Our goal is to quantify the monetary recovery so that we can put that forward to the court and recover in full on behalf of the people in Maryland.”

The litigation could take years to unfold. In the meantime, Gov. Wes Moore said in the news conference, the state is working to get the bridge rebuilt by 2028. Officials said they will cooperate with the federal government on investigations as well as on funding for the bridge’s restoration and other costs.

CNS reached out to the owners and operators for comment after Brown’s announcement but did not receive a response prior to publication. CNS reported last week that Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine have petitioned a court “for exoneration from or limitation of liability” for damages resulting from the collision.

In March, large pieces of the bridge landed in the Patapsco River, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and creating a major cleanup operation for the state. In the months since, the bridge’s collapse has caused massive economic disruption.

None of it ever should have happened, officials said.

“Ships like the Dali are supposed to be equipped with backup systems – backup systems that make sure the vessels don’t lose power or steering capabilities at critical moments, like when they’re approaching a bridge,” Brown said. “But because of the stunning mismanagement, disinterest or incompetence of the owner and operator of the Dali, those backup systems failed.”

“They so quickly after their gross negligence and reckless conduct ran to the courthouse steps to limit their liability,” Brown said.

Speaking at the news conference, Moore spoke of the work that still needs to be done to provide closure and comfort to the families who lost a loved one. He spoke directly to the families in Spanish, saying the families would continue to be in “our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers.”

He applauded the team of first responders for doing the work more quickly than anticipated.

He praised state officials for acting quickly. He said he has met with more than 125 members of Congress from both parties and is confident of bipartisan support for the bridge’s restoration.

“This is bigger than politics,” he said.