Federal agents were spotted aboard the Maersk Saltoro, a container ship managed by Synergy Marine Group, the same company that managed the Dali, the ship that caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge to fall earlier this year. The FBI, EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, and Coast Guard Investigative Services were conducting law enforcement activities on board. The move is not confirmed to be related to the ongoing investigation of the bridge collapse, and the agencies have not provided further comments.
The Department of Justice recently filed a civil claim for $103 million against Synergy Marine Private Limited and Grace Ocean Private Limited, the owners of the Dali, to recover costs associated with responding to the crash. The DOJ accused the companies of negligence and stated that the catastrophe was preventable.
The Dali lost power twice before leaving the Port of Baltimore, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The companies owning and operating the Dali have also filed a motion to limit their legal liability, which the city of Baltimore opposes. The families of the victims killed in the bridge collapse, the company employing the workers, and a survivor have all filed claims against the companies ahead of a September 24 deadline.
Synergy Marine Group did not provide a comment on the incident. The case is ongoing, and the companies look forward to defending their position in court. The investigation into the bridge collapse continues.
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