Singapore-based companies Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, owner and operator of the M/V DALI, have agreed to a $101.98 million settlement with the U.S. government over claims from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse near Baltimore. The incident, which occurred in March 2024, killed six people, obstructed the Fort McHenry Channel, and disrupted port activity. The U.S. Department of Justice had filed a lawsuit in September, alleging that Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine failed to address known risks related to the DALI’s power systems, leading to the disaster. The settlement, addressing claims under the Rivers and Harbors Act, the Oil Pollution Act, and maritime law, will fund federal cleanup efforts, with payments directed to the U.S. Treasury and federal agencies involved in the incident response. This settlement is separate from Maryland’s ongoing legal claim to cover bridge reconstruction costs, aimed at reducing taxpayer burden. Grace Ocean has already paid nearly $97,300 to the Coast Guard National Pollution Fund Center for pollution abatement.
