Ship operator involved in Baltimore bridge collapse agrees to $100 million settlement, according to DOJ

The U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement of over $100 million with the companies that owned and operated the vessel that struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland. Dali.Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Private Ltd. have agreed to pay $101,980,000 to settle the civil claim brought by the U.S. The money will go to the U.S. Treasury and other federal agencies affected by the incident. The U.S. claimed civil damages totaling over $103 million under various laws. Despite the settlement, there are still multiple civil claims pending, including one from the state of Maryland. The settlement does not cover damages to rebuild the bridge as Maryland was responsible for it. The vessel lost power and crashed into the bridge, causing it to collapse and blocking a key shipping channel and artery for commuters. The U.S. led response efforts to remove debris from the channel and the vessel, as well as setting up temporary channels to relieve shipping congestion. Six workers on the bridge died in the incident. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton praised the resolution, avoiding prolonged litigation and fully compensating the U.S. for response costs. The incident had caused a standstill in shipping at the Port of Baltimore and economic devastation in the area.

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