The Maryland State Government is suing the owner and manager of the cargo ship M/V Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. Attorney General Anthony Brown revealed this at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
The lawsuit accuses Grace Ocean Private Limited, the Singaporean company that owns the cargo ship, and Synergy Marine Group, the ship’s manager, of not taking the precautions necessary to prevent the collapse, which it blames on the companies’ “mismanagement, disinterest, and/or incompetency.”
The Francis Scott Key Bridge Disaster Was Preventable
The Attorney General’s Office said the tragic incident was “entirely preventable.” Reasons cited for the disaster include a malfunction in Dali’s power backup system and the crews’ inability to restore power.
“We will show the abject failures of the owner and operator of the M/V Dali,” said Attorney General Anthony Brown before reiterating that “Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine failed.”
In April, the companies tried to limit their financial liability in the tragedy to $43.67 million. However, Brown said they plan to shatter the limitation so Marylanders don’t have to foot the bill.
The Company Saw It Coming
According to Darrell Wilson, a Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine Group spokesman, the state’s lawsuit is not surprising. “The owner and manager will have no further comment on the merits of any claim at this time, but we do look forward to our day in court to set the record straight,” Wilson said.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge Disaster left six construction workers dead and affected businesses that relied on the flow of cargo traffic at the Port of Baltimore. The Maryland government is only one of several parties filing a lawsuit against the Dali ship owner and operator.
The Justice Department has also announced a lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages for the structure’s collapse last week. A road inspector working on the Key Bridge who got away with his life by leaping to safety just before the collapse also plans to file a claim.
What Really Caused the Francis Key Bridge Disaster?
A preliminary report from the NTSB claims the Dali was experiencing electrical issues before it started its journey to Sri Lanka on March 26.
The ship reportedly lost power four times before the crash. Two of these losses occurred just before the collision, causing the ship to lose propulsion and steering control.
According to the lawsuit, the power failures occurred because of the Dali’s management and crew’s efforts to find ways around the ship’s safety features. The state also claims that the Dali’s power was restored briefly after its initial failure.
However, it was lost again due to a “recklessly reconfigured fuel supply,” which caused the electrical power generators to run on the wrong fuel pump.
The Attorney General’s Office noted that the pilots’ request to engage a bow thruster and drop the anchor was not followed in time to avoid the collision.
Why Is the Francis Scott Key Bridge Famous?
The bridge is named after Francis Scott Key, who is famous for writing the lyrics to the U.S. national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It was famed as the second-longest continuous truss bridge in the world and the third-longest of its type globally. After five years of construction, it opened on March 23, 1977.
Even today, the bridge remains a significant milestone in Maryland’s transportation planning, completing the Interstate 695 circuit around Baltimore.
Did They Find All the Victims of the Bridge Collapse?
Yes, all victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster were found. Two workers were immediately rescued from the water the night of the collapse.
Debris from the collapse delayed and frustrated the rescue operation, and murky waters made visibility a challenge. It took a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state police, and the FBI to make progress, and even then, it was slow.
Six bodies were recovered over six weeks, with the final body found on May 7. All six victims were immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
How Long Will It Take To Rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge?
The rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected to take about three years. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025, and the project will reportedly cost about $500 million. According to reports, the restoration project will include improvements to the surrounding infrastructure as well as the bridge itself.
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Who Survived the Key Bridge Collapse?
Julio Cervantes Suarez was the only person who survived the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster. He had been in his truck when the bridge collapsed after being struck by the cargo ship Dali.
Suarez had no swimming skills. However, he managed to escape from his truck and survive in the frigid water until he was rescued. After he was rescued, he was taken to a pier at Fort Armistead Park, where he could walk to a waiting ambulance. Unfortunately, Cervantes Suarez lost his nephew and brother-in-law in the collapse.
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