**Operators of Ship that Collapsed Baltimore's Key Bridge to Pay $102 Million in Settlement**

In a significant move towards accountability, the operators of the vessel responsible for the destruction of Baltimore's Key Bridge in March have consented to pay nearly $102 million to cover the expenses arising from the federal response, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday.

According to the details of the settlement, the owners and operators of the container ship Dali—specifically the Singaporean corporations Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited—have agreed to a $101,980,000 settlement to address civil claims levied against them by the Justice Department in September.

The incident, which occurred early on March 26, resulted in the Dali colliding with one of the piers of the Key Bridge, leading to its collapse and tragically killing six construction workers who were on the span repairing potholes. Two other workers were fortunate enough to survive the disaster.

This collision also had a significant ripple effect on the Port of Baltimore. For several weeks, entry into the port was hindered as approximately 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt blocked the channel. The response required the combined efforts of numerous federal, state, and local agencies.

Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer highlighted the severity of the incident, describing it as "one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory." He noted that the settlement not only ensures that Grace Ocean and Synergy bear the costs of the federal government's cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel but also prevents these expenses from falling on American taxpayers.

The settlement funds will be allocated to the U.S. Treasury and the budgets of several federal agencies that were directly impacted by the incident or were involved in the response. This agreement resolves the United States' claims for civil damages under several statutes, including the Rivers and Harbors Act and the Oil Pollution Act.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, praised the settlement for fully compensating the United States and holding the vessel's owner and operator accountable. He also emphasized that the prompt resolution of the matter avoids the potentially significant costs of prolonged litigation.

However, the settlement does not cover the costs associated with reconstructing the bridge, which is owned by the state of Maryland. The reconstruction is estimated to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, according to Shailen Bhatt, administrator for the Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the incident. A preliminary report released by the agency in May revealed that the Dali experienced two power blackouts while docked, roughly 10 hours before the collision.