Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine PTE Ltd, the owners of the container ship M/V Dali that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, have filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Heavy Industries. They allege that the vessel suffered from a dangerously flawed design—particularly a faulty switchboard with insecure wiring—which
caused repeated electrical failures during routine operation. These blackouts disabled the ship’s steering and propulsion systems, leading it to veer off course and crash into the bridge, causing its collapse and the deaths of six road-maintenance workers.
The lawsuit argues that Hyundai’s negligence in the ship’s design and construction made the vessel unreasonably dangerous. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for the cost of repairs and legal liabilities they now face from state and city governments, as well as private entities impacted by the incident.
Earlier, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine agreed to pay $102 million to settle claims brought by the U.S. government over port recovery and environmental cleanup. As of now, the damaged bridge is under demolition, and a new one is expected to be completed by 2028.
