US District Judge James Bredar has approved a US$102 million settlement by the companies that owned and operated the ship that struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, killing six people, Reuters reports.
The payment involves the US Government's claims after the Justice Department filed a civil claim in September seeking $103 million from two Singaporean companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited.
The companies said they had agreed to pay even though they deny liability, also noting that the companies are fully insured for the settlement costs and that no punitive damages have been imposed.
The settlement covers money the US government spent responding to the disaster and clearing the wreck of the 10,000-TEU Dali and bridge debris from the Port of Baltimore so the waterway could reopen.
The state of Maryland, which estimates that it will cost $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion to rebuild the bridge and anticipates completion by fall 2028, separately filed claims against the companies for the cost of the bridge, clean-up efforts, environmental claims and other costs.
The shipping companies face additional claims from the families of those killed, workers affected by the port shutdown, Baltimore City and County, insurance companies, a utility and others.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in May that the Dali lost electrical power several times before it crashed into the bridge in the Patapsco River. The FBI opened a criminal investigation in April into the disaster.
SeaNews Turkey
The payment involves the US Government's claims after the Justice Department filed a civil claim in September seeking $103 million from two Singaporean companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited.
The companies said they had agreed to pay even though they deny liability, also noting that the companies are fully insured for the settlement costs and that no punitive damages have been imposed.
The settlement covers money the US government spent responding to the disaster and clearing the wreck of the 10,000-TEU Dali and bridge debris from the Port of Baltimore so the waterway could reopen.
The state of Maryland, which estimates that it will cost $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion to rebuild the bridge and anticipates completion by fall 2028, separately filed claims against the companies for the cost of the bridge, clean-up efforts, environmental claims and other costs.
The shipping companies face additional claims from the families of those killed, workers affected by the port shutdown, Baltimore City and County, insurance companies, a utility and others.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in May that the Dali lost electrical power several times before it crashed into the bridge in the Patapsco River. The FBI opened a criminal investigation in April into the disaster.
SeaNews Turkey