Nearly seven months after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland collapsed after being struck by a shipping vessel, the U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement with the companies that owned and operated the vessel. The companies, Dali.Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, have agreed to pay over $100 million to settle the civil claim brought by the U.S. The money will go towards covering the costs of responding to the collapse and will be distributed to the U.S. Treasury and other federal agencies involved in the incident. The settlement does not include damages for the reconstruction of the bridge as Maryland is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the bridge.
The incident occurred when the Dali vessel lost power and collided with the Key Bridge, causing it to collapse into the Fort McHenry Channel. Six workers on the bridge were killed in the accident. The wreckage of the ship obstructed the channel, leading to shipping delays and economic losses. The U.S. led response efforts to remove debris from the channel and mitigate the impact on the Port of Baltimore’s operations.
The settlement was reached to compensate the U.S. for the costs incurred in responding to the disaster and to hold the owners and operators of the Dali accountable. The resolution of the case avoids lengthy litigation and addresses the immediate financial needs resulting from the incident.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com