The owner and operator of the cargo ship that caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore has agreed to pay $102 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement will cover the federal costs incurred to respond to the disaster, including clearing the bridge and ship debris to reopen the Fort McHenry Shipping Channel in June. The Justice Department had alleged that the owner and operator were aware of issues with the ship’s electrical and mechanical systems but failed to take necessary precautions, leading to the collapse. Over 50 federal, state, and local agencies worked to remove debris from the channel and the Dali after the collapse. The bridge collapse shut down the nation’s largest vehicle-handling port and ninth busiest port overall. The settlement does not include damages for reconstructing the bridge, and the state of Maryland has filed a separate claim for additional costs. Investigations revealed that the ship lost power due to circuit breakers tripping in a transformer that had suffered from heavy vibrations. Crew members attempted makeshift fixes to the equipment, which ultimately led to the collapse. The lawsuit highlighted that the ship’s systems were improperly maintained and configured, violating safety regulations for international shipping. Authorities are working to ensure that similar disasters do not occur in the future.
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