Maryland Secures Settlement With Cargo Ship Owners Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse That Killed 6

Maryland has reached a settlement in principle with the owner and operator of the container ship MV Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March 2024 and caused its collapse, killing six construction workers.

The agreement was announced by Attorney General Anthony Brown, who said the deal with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group resolves part of the state’s claims linked to the incident.

The final amount and full terms have not been disclosed, and the settlement is still being finalised.

The ship was leaving the Port of Baltimore for Sri Lanka when it lost power, which led to a failure in steering. It then drifted off course and struck the bridge.

At the time, a road crew was working overnight to repair potholes, and six workers fell to their deaths when the structure collapsed.

The accident forced the closure of the Port of Baltimore for nearly three months, stopping vessel traffic and affecting thousands of workers.

Authorities said the impact was felt across the state, with losses linked to trade disruption, damaged infrastructure, and environmental effects on the Patapsco River.

Maryland had filed claims in federal court in September 2024, stating that the disaster was caused by negligence, poor management, and operating a vessel that was not seaworthy.

The state sought compensation for the destroyed bridge, loss of revenue, environmental damage, and economic losses.

Brown said the settlement is an important step in addressing the damage, but added that further work remains. The agreement does not cover any claims against the shipbuilder, Hyundai.

The ship’s owner and operator have also reached other settlements. They recently agreed to pay around $350 million to ACE American Insurance Company, which had already paid the same amount to Maryland under its policy.

In another case, they agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the US government. At the same time, the companies are trying to limit their liability to about $44 million under an old maritime law.

A trial is scheduled to begin on June 1 to decide whether that limit can apply. Several other claims are still pending, including those filed by victims’ families, two surviving workers, and businesses that say they suffered losses due to the port closure.

Officials said rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge could cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion. The Maryland Transportation Authority expects the new bridge to open to traffic by the end of 2030.

The bridge, which opened in 1977 and stretched about 1.6 miles, was an important route that allowed traffic to bypass central Baltimore and supported port operations.

References: washingtonpost, cbsnews