MD Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Dali Ship Owners

The Attorney General, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, announced a lawsuit to hold Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd accountable for the full scope of the damages caused by the collision of the Dali cargo ship with the Key Bridge.

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, on behalf of the State of Maryland and all its agencies, including the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), filed a lawsuit against the owners of the Dali for causing the collision with the Francis Scott Key. The press release identifies wide-ranging, multifaceted, and significant harms to the State and its residents. It went on to cite the loss of life and injury, wreckage blocking access to most of the Port of Baltimore for two months, fiscal and operational disruption across the region, and the discharge of  pollutants and hazardous materials into the air and waterways.

With the lawsuit filed today, in addition to punitive damages, Maryland is asking the court to award damages to the State for:

  • Replacement of the bridge;
  • All costs associated with the emergency response, salvage, demolition, and benefits paid to affected workers and businesses;
  • Lost revenues, including tolls, fees, and taxes;
  • Indemnification, damages, and attorneys’ fees pursuant to the Tariff;
  • Damage to the State’s natural resources;
  • All costs related to environmental contamination and penalties;
  • Increased wear and tear on the State’s infrastructure; and
  • Other forms of economic loss flowing from the destruction of the bridge.

The Dali owners have requested the court to limit its liability for this disaster to the value of the ship. In the filing today by the Office of the Attorney General, Maryland is asking the court to deny this request and hold Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine accountable to the full extent of the actual damages. According to the announcement, the full scope of damages will be the subject of expert testimony in the litigation, and the State’s investigation is ongoing.

The full complaint is available here. ​