Maryland settles with owner and operator of ship that crashed into
Baltimore's Key Bridge
[April 10, 2026]
By BRIAN WITTE
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland has reached a settlement with the owner
and operator of the massive cargo ship that crashed into a Baltimore
bridge two years ago, causing its deadly collapse, state officials
announced Thursday.
The settlement in principle was reached with Grace Ocean Private Limited
and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, owner and operator of the M/V Dali, Attorney
General Anthony Brown said. The settlement resolves a portion of the
state's claims arising from the ship's March 26, 2024, crash into the
Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“For two years, Maryland workers, families, and communities have carried
the weight of a disaster that should never have happened," Brown said in
a news release. It did not give details of the settlement.
The attorney general noted that the Dali's crash into the bridge
"disrupted the Port of Baltimore, devastated livelihoods, and sent
economic shockwaves across our State that are still being felt today.”
“Our work is not finished, but this settlement is an important step
toward making Maryland whole," Brown said.
The companies confirmed in a joint statement that significant progress
has been made in resolving claims. Within the past week, the statement
said, they have reached “two pivotal settlement agreements with the
State of Maryland and ACE American Insurance Company that underscore
their commitment to a reasonable and structured outcome to this
unfortunate incident.”
The $350 million settlement with the insurance company matched the
amount ACE paid to Maryland, an amount that represented the limit of the
state's policy.
“These agreements represent a significant step towards resolving the
complex litigation surrounding this event and Owners and Managers remain
open to negotiating in good faith to reach equitable settlements with
other involved parties holding meritorious claims,” the joint statement
said.
The Maryland Transportation Authority late last year estimated the price
range of a new bridge alone to be between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion,
with an anticipated open-to-traffic date in late 2030.
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A boat moves past the bow of the container ship Dali prior to the
detonation of explosive charges to bring down sections of the
collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the Dali, May 13,
2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein,File)
The settlement does not resolve any claims the state may have
against the shipbuilder, Hyundai, the attorney general's office
said.
The ship was leaving Baltimore for Sri Lanka when its steering
failed because of a power loss. Six men on a road crew, who were
filling potholes during an overnight shift, fell to their deaths
when the bridge collapsed.
The state’s claims, filed in federal court in Maryland in September
2024, alleged that the disaster was the result of negligence,
mismanagement, and the reckless operation of a vessel that was not
seaworthy and should never have left port.
The state sought damages on behalf of its agencies for the
destruction of the bridge, harm to the Patapsco River and
surrounding environment, lost revenues, and the wide-ranging
economic losses sustained by Maryland and its residents.
The collapse brought shipping at the Port of Baltimore to a complete
halt, disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of workers, rerouted
traffic through communities already bearing disproportionate
burdens, and triggered economic ripple effects still being felt
across the state, the attorney general's office noted.
The bridge, a longstanding Baltimore landmark, was a vital piece of
transportation infrastructure that allowed drivers to easily bypass
downtown. The original 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) steel span took five
years to construct and opened to traffic in 1977. It was
particularly important for the city’s port operations.
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