Feds slam Dali owners for putting ‘profit over safety’ as they demand $100m for bridge cleanup

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The U.S. government has launched a $100m lawsuit against the owners and operators of the container ship Dali, which destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March in a crash that killed six and caused an estimated $15m a day in lost trade. “As a result, when the DALI lost power, a cascading set of failures led to disaster.” The complaint points to a litany of red flags within the ship’s electrical and steering systems: a backup transformer that was slow to kick in when the ship lost power ahead of the crash; an emergency generator that took too long to turn on; an improper fuel pump that compromised steering; and an anchor that wasn’t ready, as required by law, to release in case of an emergency. Former employees of the container ship also described makeshift repairs around the ship’s key electrical components, which were often subject to heavy vibration, that prosecutors compared to a “Band-Aid” approach. In a statement to The Washington Post on behalf of the ship’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and its operator, Synergy Marine Private Limited, Darrell Wilson said the suit was “anticipated,” but that the companies “will have no further comment on the merits of any claim at this time.” “We do look forward to our day in court to set the record straight,” he said.