Federal agents were on board the Maersk Saltoro container ship at the Port of Baltimore over the weekend as part of court-authorized law enforcement activity. The ship is managed by Synergy Marine Group, the same company that managed the Dali, the vessel responsible for collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year. The presence of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, and Coast Guard Investigative Services was confirmed by a spokesperson from the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

The Dali incident in March resulted in the tragic collapse of the bridge, claiming the lives of six workers and causing disruptions to port operations. The Department of Justice recently filed a civil claim for $103 million against Synergy Marine Private Limited and Grace Ocean Private Limited, the owners of the Dali, to recover expenses incurred in response to the crash and debris clearance. The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages, accusing the companies of negligence in the avoidable catastrophe.

Following preliminary reports from the National Transportation Safety Board, it was disclosed that the Dali experienced power losses on two occasions before departing from the Port of Baltimore. Synergy Marine Group and Grace Ocean Private Limited, the ship's owner, had previously sought to limit their legal liability, a move contested by the city of Baltimore. Responding to the claims made against them, the companies stated they anticipate the legal actions and express readiness to clarify their position in court. Additionally, families of the deceased workers, the workers’ employer, and a survivor of the bridge collapse have submitted claims against the companies ahead of the upcoming deadline on September 24.