The owner and operator of the cargo ship involved in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore have agreed to pay $102 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement will cover federal costs incurred to respond to the disaster, including clearing the bridge and ship debris to reopen the Fort McHenry Shipping Channel. The Justice Department alleged that the owner and operator were aware of issues with the ship’s systems but failed to take necessary precautions. The bridge collapse shut down the nation’s largest vehicle-handling port and ninth busiest port overall, posing a significant economic threat. The Fort McHenry Shipping Channel was restored to its original operational depth on June 10 after extensive cleanup efforts.
The incident occurred when the Dali cargo ship struck one of the bridge’s support columns, causing it to collapse and plunge into the water. The ship had lost power twice before the crash, and investigations revealed that the ship’s electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained, leading to the allision. Crew members had made makeshift changes to equipment to try to limit vibrations, but these were found to violate safety regulations for international shipping. The state of Maryland has estimated that it will cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion to rebuild the bridge by 2028, and has filed a separate claim against the ship’s owner and operator for additional costs.
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