Ship owner in Baltimore bridge collapse seeks to blame others as liability case takes shape

BALTIMORE – An expanded liability case takes shape as follows: fatal collapse The owner and manager of the container ship Dali is trying to deflect responsibility and shift blame for the incident that occurred on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March.

Lawyers for Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group argued in court Tuesday that Maryland state officials should have better protected the bridge from ship attacks. They also raised questions about whether the shipbuilder installed faulty electrical equipment that caused Dali to lose power as she approached the bridge.

Meanwhile, attorneys for dozens of plaintiffs seeking compensation argued that the focus should be on where the two companies stand.

“This is not an offensive tool,” said David Reisman, an attorney representing the state of Maryland. He argued that the court should not consider such claims from companies so early in the litigation process.

Plaintiffs include the families of the six construction workers killed in the collapse, as well as state and local governments, businesses, dockworkers and more. They accused Grace Ocean and Synergy of failing to properly maintain the Dali, ignoring long-standing problems with the electrical system and knowingly sending an unseaworthy ship into Maryland waters.

Shortly after the March 26 crash, the companies filed a petition in federal court in Baltimore trying to limit their liability. Since then, approximately 50 more organizations have filed counterclaims against the lawsuit.

At a conference on Tuesday, Judge James Bredar questioned attorneys on both sides in an attempt to “give structure to this sprawling and unusual matter” that could become the most expensive maritime accident case in history.

The ultimate goal is to deliver the case “to the launch pad for resolution,” Bredar said. But this could take years. He said a future decision would consider the first phase of the case, including determining a timeline and appropriate scope — whether narrowly focused or considering broader questions such as third-party liability.

Grace Ocean’s attorney, William Bennett, argued that the court should attribute “substantial responsibility and fault” to state officials, among others. He cited “decades of records” showing the state of Maryland failed to properly maintain the bridge, which was built in the 1970s with minimal pier protection.

The gallery of the courtroom was filled with lawyers participating in the case. The discovery process will likely include dozens of hours of testimony over the next few months, culminating in a trial.

In the meantime, it is possible that some federal claims may be resolved. Just last week, Grace Ocean and Synergy Agreed to pay more than $102 million Cleanup costs to resolve a claim filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. This payment will reimburse the federal government for money spent clearing large amounts of debris from the Port of Baltimore’s main shipping channel, which remained closed for months after the collapse.

After the settlement was announced, a spokesperson for Grace Ocean said it was not an admission of liability or wrongdoing.

The Justice Department claim, which has since been rejected, provided the most detailed account yet of the cascading series of failures that left Dali’s pilots and crew helpless in the face of impending disaster. The complaint cited “excessive vibrations” on the ship, which attorneys called “the well-known cause of transformer and electrical failure.” The complaint alleged that the crew engaged in “jury trickery” on the ship rather than dealing with the source of the vibrations.

FBI agents boarded the ship during an incident in April. criminal investigation conditions that led to the collapse.

While traveling from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, Dali lost power and veered off course, crashing into a bridge. Six members of the roadwork team fell and died. A last-minute call for help from the ship’s pilots allowed police to stop traffic to the bridge, but were unable to warn the workers.

The collapse disrupted commercial shipping traffic at the Port of Baltimore. increased commute times for local drivers and left many dock workers temporarily unemployed. Trucking companies and other companies that rely on the bridge expect long-term impacts, according to court records.

The federal lawsuit will likely be followed by additional litigation in Maryland state courts.