On September 19, the container ship “Dali” that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March has left U.S. waters for extensive repairs in Ningbo, China.
“Dali” left Norfolk, Virginia, escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard and three tugboats, without cargo, and the journey was expected to take about 6-7 weeks due to speed restrictions.
The Singapore-registered ship was shipped from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia in June for initial repairs.
“Dali” lost power in the early morning hours of March 26 and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the structure to collapse into the Patapsco River.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a $103 million civil claim against the owners and managers of the Dali, alleging negligence that led to the deaths of six bridge workers and halted port operations for months.
“This was an entirely avoidable catastrophe, resulting from a series of eminently foreseeable errors made by the owner and operator of the Dali,” Brian Boynton, who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said in a statement.
Lawsuits have also been filed by the families of the victims, as well as by the construction companies that employed the workers, adding to the growing number of claims filed in the wake of the tragedy. The wave of lawsuits triggered by this costly incident is likely to continue for many years.