FBI Investigates Ship in Baltimore Linked to Bridge Collapse
Federal agents boarded a container ship in the Port of Baltimore on Saturday, which is managed by the same company responsible for the ship involved in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse earlier this year. The FBI, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and Coast Guard Investigative Services, conducted court-authorized law enforcement activities aboard the Maersk Saltoro, according to a statement from Angelina Thompson, spokesperson for the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.
The Maersk Saltoro is managed by Synergy Marine Group, the same company that managed the Dali, which collided with the bridge on March 26, resulting in its fall into the Patapsco River and the deaths of six workers. The incident also disrupted operations at the Port of Baltimore. Reports indicated that federal agents were seen waiting on the dock as the Saltoro entered the harbor early Saturday morning.
While authorities have not clarified if Saturday’s actions relate to the bridge collapse investigation, they have declined to provide further comments. Synergy Marine Group did not respond to requests for comment.
Earlier this week, the Department of Justice filed a civil claim seeking $103 million from Synergy Marine Private Limited and Grace Ocean Private Limited, the owners of the Dali, to recover costs incurred from the crash and subsequent debris removal. The lawsuit also seeks unspecified punitive damages, with the DOJ accusing the companies of negligence.
"This was an entirely avoidable catastrophe, resulting from a series of eminently foreseeable errors made by the owner and operator of the Dali," stated Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division. Preliminary reports from the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that the Dali experienced power loss twice before departing the Port of Baltimore.
The companies involved have filed a motion to limit their legal liability, which the city of Baltimore is contesting. In response to the lawsuit, they expressed their anticipation of the claims and look forward to their day in court to clarify the facts.
Additionally, families of the six victims, the company that employed the workers, and a survivor of the collapse have submitted claims against the companies ahead of a September 24 deadline.