Latest News

US Judge approves shipping companies' settlement of $102 Million with DOJ regarding Baltimore Bridge collapse

The U.S. court approved a settlement of $102 million on Friday between the companies who owned and operated the ship which struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six people in March.

The payment approved by U.S. district judge James Bredar resolves U.S. claims. In September, the Justice Department had filed a civil suit seeking $103 millions from two Singaporean firms, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and Synergy Marine Private Limited.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the company said that they have agreed to pay despite denying liability. The spokesperson noted that the companies were fully insured to cover the settlement costs, and no punitive damages had been imposed.

The settlement includes money that the U.S. Government spent to respond to the disaster, and clear the wreck of the Dali Ship and bridge debris in the Port of Baltimore for the waterway to reopen again in June.

Maryland has filed separate claims against each company for the costs of the bridge, the cleanup effort, the environmental claims, and other costs.

Shipping companies are facing additional claims by families of the victims, workers who were affected by the closure, Baltimore City, County, insurance companies and a utility, among others. The spokesperson stated that they would challenge these claims.

The spokesperson stated that "it is important to emphasize that the Federal Government claim was unique and different from other claims as it fell outside of the usual limitations of liability framework." He added that "the companies are prepared to vigorously defend themselves...to establish that they weren't responsible for the accident."

In May, the National Transportation Safety Board reported that the Dali had lost power multiple times before it hit the Patapsco River bridge. In April, the FBI launched a criminal probe into the tragedy. (Reporting and editing by Jonathan Oatis, Emelia Sithole Matarise, and David Shepardson)

(source: Reuters)