### Ship Owner and Manager of Dali to Pay $102 Million Following Baltimore Bridge Collision

Following the collision of the cargo ship Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the ship's owner and manager have agreed to a substantial settlement. Grace Ocean Private Ltd and Synergy Marine Private Ltd, both based in Singapore, will pay $102 million to settle a civil claim initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ). The incident, which took place on March 26, 2024, caused significant disruption and damage, including the loss of six lives.

The settlement covers costs related to the salvage operations, clearance of bridge wreckage, and the removal of obstructions in the water channel to Baltimore port. It does not, however, include reconstruction costs for the bridge itself. These will be addressed through a separate claim filed by the State of Maryland.

The DoJ, following a multi-agency investigation, found that poor engineering and safety practices on board the Dali led to two blackouts. These blackouts disabled critical systems, leaving the crew unable to control the ship, which ultimately resulted in the bridge collision.

Despite the agreed-upon payout, Synergy Marine has emphasized that the settlement does not equate to an acceptance of liability. The company maintains that no punitive damages were imposed and that they intend to continue defending their limited liability claim of $43 million.

Insurance experts anticipated a hefty payout due to the severity of the losses, including the destruction of the bridge, disruption to road traffic, and significant impacts on Baltimore port's operations. Some estimates have suggested that the financial repercussions could rival the $1.5 billion payout related to the Costa Concordia disaster in 2012.

To date, 45 claims for damages related to the bridge collision have been filed. Synergy sources note that most of these claims are related to economic losses. The situation has prompted reflections on the Robins Dry Dock ruling, a century-old U.S. Supreme Court decision, which sets precedents that limit liability for purely economic claims in marine incidents.

Overall, this settlement marks a significant step in addressing the aftermath of the collision, although the full scope of financial and legal repercussions is yet to be resolved.