Federal agents boarded a vessel managed by the same company as a cargo ship that caused a deadly bridge collapse in Baltimore. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that authorities boarded the Maersk Saltoro, which is managed by Synergy Marine Group. The raid came months after investigators searched the Dali, the cargo ship involved in the bridge collapse. The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit alleging that the Dali owner and manager recklessly ignored known electrical problems on the vessel, which led to multiple power outages before it crashed into a support column on the bridge, killing six road work crew members.
The Justice Department stated that the mechanical and electrical systems on the ship had been improperly maintained and jury-rigged, leading to power outages and other failures. The ship lost power minutes before crashing into the bridge, causing the tragic collapse. The lawsuit seeks to recover over $100 million spent by the government to clear underwater debris and reopen the Port of Baltimore, which was affected by the bridge collapse for months. The companies involved in the lawsuit filed a petition to limit their legal liability, but Justice Department officials rejected this and vowed to contest it. The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages to deter reckless behavior from vessel owners and operators in the future.
The Justice Department argued in the lawsuit that Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine need to be held accountable for their actions, as they continue to operate vessels in U.S. waters. The Dali had a sister ship that was also operated by these companies, emphasizing the need to deter such behavior. A spokesperson for Grace Ocean confirmed that FBI and Coast Guard officials boarded the Maersk Saltoro in the Port of Baltimore. The Dali and the Saltoro were both built in Singapore by Hyundai, and issues with the Dali’s electrical system may have resulted from excessive vibrations on the ship, which could damage connections and loosen wires.
The lawsuit highlighted reports of heavy vibration in the Dali’s handover notes and cracked equipment in the engine room, indicating poor maintenance and safety concerns. The ship’s electrical equipment was in such bad condition that further electrical testing was halted due to safety concerns. Despite experiencing power outages while docked in Baltimore, the incidents were not reported to the U.S. Coast Guard as required. The Dali departed Norfolk, Virginia, on its first international voyage since the bridge collapse, heading to China. The Justice Department did not confirm if a criminal investigation into the bridge collapse is ongoing, but FBI agents boarded the Dali in April.
The consequences of the bridge collapse in Baltimore were significant, resulting in the loss of six lives and disrupting commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore. The collapse required extensive efforts to clear debris and reopen the port, costing the government over $100 million. The lawsuit filed by the Justice Department aims to hold the responsible companies accountable for their reckless behavior, seeking to prevent similar incidents in the future. The FBI’s involvement in boarding the Maersk Saltoro suggests ongoing investigations into the actions of the companies involved in the bridge collapse and their operations in U.S. waters.
