Justice Department files $100M suit against Dali owner over Key Bridge collapse

Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The Justice Department Wednesday filed a $100 million lawsuit against the owner and operator of the container ship Dali that brought down Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.

Justice Department U.S. Attorney for Maryland Erek Barron said that the 985-foot Dali's owner Grace Ocean Private and manager Synergy Marine " recklessly cut corners in ways that risked lives and the economic well-being of the nation," when it struck the bridge on March 26.

"In particular, our claim alleges that the owner and operator of the Dali were well aware of vibration issues on the vessel that could cause a power outage," Barron said.

The statement added that six construction workers tragically lost their lives, Baltimore's economy was disrupted and the bridge collapse severed "a critical link in our highway infrastructure."

The lawsuit alleged the ship was "jury-rigged" and unseaworthy when an electrical outage caused by a vibration problem led to the ship striking the bridge.

"Because of the unseaworthy condition of the ship, none of the four means available to help control the Dali-her propeller, rudder, anchor, or bow thruster-worked when they were needed to avert or even mitigate this disaster," it stated.

During a Wednesday news conference, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the alleged actions of Grace Ocean, Synergy and the Dali's crew " shameful ."

"This tragedy was entirely avoidable. The electrical and mechanical systems on the Dali were improperly maintained and configured in a way that violated safety regulations and norms for international shipping," the Justice Department lawsuit said.

It added those problems "precipitated a power loss and then a cascading series of failures that culminated" in the ship crashing into the bridge.

The five-count civil suit said damages caused by the alleged negligence that caused the ship to hit the bridge amounted to $103,078,056.

Claims were brought for negligence under the general Maritime Law, the Rivers and Harbors Act, and the Oil Pollution Act.

The suit also seeks punitive damages.

"Petitioners' conduct was outrageous, grossly negligent, willful, wanton, and reckless, and punitive damages are available in this case, because the Dali got underway with known unseaworthy conditions in confined waters where a ship of its magnitude had every opportunity to cause catastrophic damage and loss of life, which in fact happened," the lawsuit said.

The city of Baltimore blamed the owner and manager of the Dali for causing the bridge collapse, citing alleged negligence In a court filing in April.