Maryland Reaches Settlement With Ship Owner, Operator Over Bridge Collapse

The state of Maryland has reached a settlement in principle with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., the owner and operator of the M/V Dali, resolving a portion of the state’s claims arising from the cargo ship’s allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge two years ago.

In announcing the development, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown did not disclose any details of the settlement that is still being finalized. Brown said the settlement resolves claims brought against the vessel interest by the state and its agencies, including the Maryland Transportation Authority, the Maryland Port Administration, and the Maryland Department of the Environment.

He said the settlement does not resolve any claims the state may have against the shipbuilder, Hyundai.

The announcement comes following a ruling in January allowing Synergy, the manager of the cargo ship, to proceed for now with its claims under an 1851 maritime law that limits liability for shipowners. The state of Maryland and wrongful death claimants had sought to prevent Synergy Marine from invoking the Shipowners’ Limitation of Liability Act on the basis that Synergy did not meet the requirements as an owner of the ship and thus is not entitled to limited liability protection granted by the law.

But U.S. District Court Judge James K. Bredar denied that motion. The state did not challenge ship owner Grace Ocean’s invoking of the maritime law. As a result, both Grace Ocean and Synergy are entitled to stand trial on their right to limitation.

Judge Allows Dali Manager’s Bid to Limit Liability for Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Under the maritime law, a shipowner’s liability for a maritime loss or mishap is limited to the value of the ship and her pending freight if the mishap occurred without the privity of knowledge of the owner. The stipulated value of the Dali is $43.7 million.

In the bridge collapse on March 26, 2024, six construction workers lost their lives. The collapse brought shipping at the Port of Baltimore to a complete halt, disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of workers, and generated economic ripple effects across the state.

The state’s claims, filed in federal district court for Maryland in September 2024, allege that the disaster was the result of negligence, mismanagement, and the reckless operation of a vessel that was not seaworthy and should never have left port. The state is seeking damages on behalf of its agencies for the destruction of the bridge, harm to the Patapsco River and surrounding environment, lost revenues, and the wide-ranging economic losses sustained by Maryland and its residents.

Grace Ocean has argued that the state officials bear “significant liability and fault” in light of “decades of records” showing the state failed to properly protect the bridge, which was built in the 1970s with minimal pier protection. The ship owner is also suing the shipbuilder, Hyundai.

Judge Approves $102 Million Settlement Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse

In October 2024, the Singaporean owner and operator of the Dali agreed to pay $102 million to resolve a civil claim brought by the United States for costs related to the catastrophic bridge collapse. That payment reimbursed the federal government for money spent clearing massive amounts of debris from the Port of Baltimore’s main shipping channel, which remained closed for months after the collapse.

After announcing that U.S. settlement, a spokesperson for Grace Ocean said it wasn’t an admission of responsibility or wrongdoing.

In November, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a report finding that a loose wire in the ship’s electrical system caused a breaker to unexpectedly open. That in turn triggered a sequence of events that led to two vessel blackouts and a loss of both propulsion and steering near the 2.37-mile-long Key Bridge.

A status report on the case filed with the court on March 27, 2026 indicated that other parties including Ace American Insurance and certain personal injury and wrongful death claimants have been in settlement discussions as well.

Photo: Key Bridge collision. NTSB photo.

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