The U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement of over $100 million with the companies that owned and operated the vessel that struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland. Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Private Ltd. have agreed to pay $101,980,000 to settle the civil claim brought by the U.S. for the costs to respond to the collapse. The money will go to the U.S. Treasury and other federal agencies affected by the incident or involved in the response. The U.S. had claimed civil damages totaling $103,078,056 under various laws. There are still several outstanding civil claims, including one from the state of Maryland. The settlement does not include damages to rebuild the bridge since Maryland owned and operated it. The prompt resolution of the case avoids potential years of litigation expenses. The Dali vessel smashed into the Key Bridge after leaving the Port of Baltimore, causing it to collapse and obstructing the channel for months. The U.S. led efforts to remove debris, set up temporary channels, and mitigate economic devastation caused by the incident. Overall, the settlement fully compensates the U.S. for response costs and holds the Dali’s owner and operator accountable for the disaster.
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