BALTIMORE — Baltimore City is taking legal action against organizations it believes are responsible for the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and the FBI is initiate an investigation in the disaster.
The bridge collapsed nearly three weeks ago after its support column was struck by broken cargo ship in the early morning hours of March 26, sending eight construction workers into the Patapsco River below, killing six of them.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced Monday that the city is partnering with two prominent law firms to take legal action against those responsible for the tragedy, including the ship’s owner, charterer, operator, manufacturer and other parties.
The mayor said the effort was to mitigate the immediate and long-term damage caused to Baltimore residents, such as the families of the victims, workers at the Port of Baltimore and those who used the bridge every day. It’s unclear how much damages the city is seeking.
“We continue to do everything we can to support everyone affected here and will continue to recognize the human impact this event has,” the mayor said in a statement. “Part of that work should be seeking redress from those who may potentially be responsible and with the ship owner filing an application to limit his liability just days after the incident, we must act just as quickly to protect the city’s interests.”
Dali’s owner seeks to avoid liability
Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Private, a Singapore-based company that provides water transportation services, and is operated by Synergy Marine Group, a Singapore-based charter ship company with more than 660 vessels under technical management, according to its website.
Perhaps anticipating a wave of lawsuits, Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine Group took steps about a week after the collapse to limit their liability for the disaster.
In a six-page preemptive complaint in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, the companies cited the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, in which a shipowner can try to limit the amount he has to pay if his ship suffers an accident; this limit would be equal to the value of the ship.
The filing notes that the cargo hanging over the trip was valued at $1.17 million.
The vessel was chartered by Danish shipping giant Maersk at the time of the incident.
The FBI begins an investigation into the bridge collapse
Federal law enforcement is investigating what caused the Key Bridge to collapse, according to two people familiar with the matter. The FBI said it currently has agents on Dali, who is still at the scene, but offered no further information.
“The FBI is present aboard the freighter Dali conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity,” the agency said. “There is no other public information available and we will have no further comment.”
The investigation is being conducted by the Maryland State Attorney’s Office and the FBI. The Washington Post first reported the news of the federal investigation.
In a statement released Monday, the U.S. Attorney for Maryland, Ereck Barron, said: “My office generally will not confirm the existence or otherwise comment on investigations. However, the public needs to know, whether it’s gun violence, civil rights abuse, financial fraud, or any other threat to public safety or property, we will hold accountable anyone who may be responsible.”
Attorneys for the corporation that owns Dali did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment.
What caused the bridge crash?
Chairman of the National Transport Safety Council told Congress last week the agency is focusing on the ship’s electrical system in its investigation of the crash. The NTSB probe appears to be separate from the FBI’s.
An unclassified memo released by CISA, the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the ship reported lost drive at the time of the accident.
The NTSB identified Hyundai as the manufacturer of the vessel’s power and braking system. The agency expects the preliminary collapse report to be released by the first week of May.
The agency also interviewed the ship’s crew, examined the voyage data recorder and evaluated the bridge design.
Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing
Dozens of containers are being removed from the freighter Dali as rescue operations continue. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is leading the rescue effort, is prioritizing clearing the Fort McHenry Channel to resume operations in the Port of Baltimore.
Remove a container is critical to moving the stranded ship, which has tons of disfigured steel on its bow. Engineers are looking to remove 178 containers to relaunch Dali.
Two temporary passages are designed for smaller commercial and basic vessels and barges. At least 69 ships have traveled through these canals. Third, deeper channel is expected to open this month, allowing most ships to enter the port.
Three bodies remain missing after the collapse: Miguel Luna, 40, Jose Minor Lopez, 35, and a man named Carlos, whose full name has not been released.
So far, teams have recovered the bodies of Mayor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, 35, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, 26.
The men were repairing holes in the bridge when it collapsed and they were knocked into the river.
