Maryland has reached a settlement in principle with the owner and operator of the cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge two years ago, causing its collapse and killing six construction workers.
Attorney General Anthony Brown said the agreement with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd resolves a portion of the state’s claims stemming from the March 26, 2024, incident involving the M/V Dali. He did not disclose the settlement amount.
“For two years, Maryland workers, families, and communities have carried the weight of a disaster that should never have happened,” Brown said in a news release. “The Dali’s crash into the Key Bridge disrupted the Port of Baltimore, devastated livelihoods, and sent economic shockwaves across our State that are still being felt today.”
Brown added, “Our work is not finished, but this settlement is an important step toward making Maryland whole.”
The companies said in a joint statement that they have made significant progress in resolving claims, reaching “two pivotal settlement agreements with the State of Maryland and ACE American Insurance Company” within the past week, the Associated Press reported. The $350 million agreement with the insurer matched the policy limit that ACE had already paid to the state.
“These agreements represent a significant step towards resolving the complex litigation surrounding this event and Owners and Managers remain open to negotiating in good faith to reach equitable settlements with other involved parties holding meritorious claims,” per the statement.
The settlement does not resolve any claims the state may have against the shipbuilder, Hyundai, Brown’s office said.
The state filed its claims in federal court in Maryland in September 2024, alleging negligence, mismanagement, and reckless operation of a vessel that was not seaworthy and should never have left port. It sought damages for the bridge’s destruction, environmental harm to the Patapsco River, lost revenues, and broader economic losses.
The Dali was departing Baltimore for Sri Lanka when a power loss caused its steering to fail, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. The collapse halted shipping at the Port of Baltimore, disrupted thousands of workers’ livelihoods, and forced traffic to reroute through already overburdened communities. Six road crew members who were working on the bridge the night of its collapse fell to their deaths when the collision occurred.
The Maryland Transportation Authority estimated late last year that replacing the bridge alone could cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with an anticipated opening in late 2030. The original 1.6-mile steel span opened in 1977 and served as a key route bypassing downtown while supporting port operations.
