Maryland reached a settlement in principle with the owner and operator of the M/V Dali after the cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the bridge’s deadly collapse two years ago, Attorney General Anthony Brown said Thursday. Brown said the settlement with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd would resolve part of the state’s claims related to the March 26, 2024 crash.
In a news release, Brown said, “For two years, Maryland workers, families, and communities have carried the weight of a disaster that should never have happened,” and he added that the agreement is “an important step toward making Maryland whole.” Brown also said the crash “disrupted the Port of Baltimore, devastated livelihoods, and sent economic shockwaves across our State that are still being felt today,” while describing the settlement as part of ongoing work in the case.
Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine confirmed in a joint statement that the agreement process had advanced, saying they had made “significant progress” in resolving claims. The companies said that within the past week they reached “two pivotal settlement agreements with the State of Maryland and ACE American Insurance Company” and that the agreements reflect their commitment to a “reasonable and structured outcome” after the incident.
The report said the insurance-related portion of the settlement involved $350 million. It also said that the amount matched what ACE paid to Maryland and that the figure reflected the limit of the state’s policy. Brown’s office said the broader settlement in principle did not close other potential claims, including those the state may pursue against Hyundai, the shipbuilder.
Maryland’s lawsuit began after the bridge collapse. The state’s claims, filed in federal court in Maryland in September 2024, alleged the disaster resulted from negligence and mismanagement, as well as the “reckless operation” of a vessel that the state said was not seaworthy and should not have left port.
According to the report, the Dali was leaving Baltimore for Sri Lanka when its steering failed due to a power loss. The bridge collapsed while six road crew workers were filling potholes during an overnight shift, and the collapse killed the six men. The state sought damages including costs tied to destruction of the bridge, harm to the Patapsco River and the surrounding environment, lost revenues, and economic losses sustained by Maryland residents and agencies.
The collapse also brought shipping at the Port of Baltimore to a complete halt, disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of workers, and rerouted traffic through communities already dealing with disproportionate burdens, the attorney general’s office said. The bridge had opened in 1977 and was about 1.6 miles long, taking five years to construct; it was a key corridor that helped drivers bypass downtown while supporting port operations.