US Department of Justice agrees US$101m settlement with MV Dali owner and operator

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, the owner and operator of the MV Dali, have agreed to pay almost $102m to resolve a civil claim brought by the US for costs borne in responding to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

The settlement resolves the claims for civil damages for US$103m under the Rivers and Harbors Act, Oil Pollution Act, and general maritime law, while the monies will go to the US Treasury and budgets of several federal agencies directly affected by the allision or involved in the response. 

On March 26, the MV Dali left the Port of Baltimore for Sri Lanka but while navigating through the Fort McHenry Channel, the vessel lost power, regained power, and then lost power again before striking the bridge.