FBI Agents Board Vessel Managed By Company Linked To Deadly Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Federal authorities boarded the Maersk Saltoro, a Synergy Marine Group-managed vessel linked to the cargo ship that caused the Baltimore bridge collapse. The FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office in Maryland both confirmed the operation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the Coast Guard Investigative Services were all involved in the law enforcement.

Although The Washington Post was the first to report the incident, it did not provide specific information regarding the boarding.

The US Justice Department filed a complaint on Wednesday claiming that Grace Ocean Private Ltd., Dali’s owner, and Synergy Marine negligently ignored the vessel’s known electrical issues.

These issues caused the ship to lose power many times before colliding with a support column, resulting in a catastrophic collapse that killed six road construction workers.

The Justice Department claims that the Dali’s mechanical and electrical systems were improperly maintained, leading to a series of malfunctions that left the crew unable to manage the ship.

The Dali was en route from Baltimore to Sri Lanka when the steering failed because of the power outages.

The bridge collapse interrupted commercial shipping operations through the Port of Baltimore, and the waterway was fully reopened in June. The government seeks over $100 million to recover the costs of cleaning underwater debris and resuming port operations.

In response to the incident, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine filed a petition to limit their legal liability, which the Justice Department claims lacks legal support for and plans to actively oppose.

The action also seeks punitive damages, with the need to avoid such dangerous actions in the future, especially as the companies continue to operate more vessels in US waters.

Darrell Wilson, a Grace Ocean spokesperson, confirmed the FBI and Coast Guard’s presence aboard the Maersk Saltoro and stated that the companies want to present their case in court to clarify the facts.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit detailed previous concerns with the Dali’s electrical system, saying extreme vibrations may have led to the failures. An earlier captain reported a “heavy vibration” in his handover notes.

According to the lawsuit, the Dali also encountered power outages when docked in Baltimore. These were categorized as “reportable marine casualties” but not reported to the US Coast Guard.

After months of being stranded in the wreckage, the Dali left Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday for its first international trip since the March catastrophe.

Reference: AP News, NYTimes

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