The owner of the cargo ship involved in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore has 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. The ship’s owner was accused of negligence and failing to address known issues with the ship’s systems, leading to the collapse. Over 50 agencies worked to remove debris, and the bridge was reopened in June after nearly three months of cleanup. The settlement does not include damages for reconstructing the bridge, as Maryland estimates it will cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion to rebuild by 2028. The state has filed a separate claim for additional costs related to the incident. The ship lost power and collided with the bridge, causing the collapse, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers. The FBI opened a criminal investigation, and the National Transportation Safety Board found that the ship had lost power before the crash. The ship’s electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained, leading to the power loss and subsequent failures. The crew attempted makeshift repairs that ultimately failed, culminating in the bridge collapse.
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Owner of Cargo Ship to Pay $102 Million for Cleanup
