After a $100 million federal settlement, DALI's owners claim they were “not responsible” for the Key Bridge collapse and vow to fight off the remaining lawsuits

BALTIMORE – Saturday marks the seventh anniversary of the Key Bridge collapse, and DALI owners reached their first major settlement since the disaster, agreeing to pay $101,980,000 to the federal government as part of a settlement with the Justice Department .

All the money goes to the U.S. Treasury and is paid out to the agencies that paid for the cleanup.

“This resolution ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup in the Fort McHenry Channel will be borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy, rather than the American taxpayer,” said Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer.

The comparison has no effect on the many other complaints including Baltimore City, Baltimore County and the state of Maryland – where billions of dollars in damage could occur.

DALI owner promises to fight further lawsuits

Darrell Wilson, a spokesman for DALI's owners, said in a statement: “The settlement covers only the costs associated with clearing the canal, for which we would have been responsible in any event, and does not constitute an indication of liability, which we expressly reject.” for the incident that led to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”

He noted that the government did not receive punitive damages.

The owners want to limit their liability to $43.7 million, the value of the ship and its cargo, citing maritime law that dates back to the Titanic.

“Grace Ocean and Synergy are prepared to vigorously defend themselves in the limitation of liability litigation pending in federal court in Baltimore and demonstrate that they are not responsible for the incident,” Wilson said in the owners’ statement.

Federal allegations

In the settled lawsuit, the Justice Department claimed the DALI was “unseaworthy” and called the owners' conduct “outrageous, grossly negligent, willful, wanton and reckless.”

The government claimed: “This tragedy was entirely avoidable. DALI’s electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained and configured in a manner that violated international shipping safety regulations and standards.”

Lawsuits related to the shocking disaster on March 26 are still pending – including against the families of the six deceased workers.

Some crew members are still in Baltimore

Several DALI crew members remain in the Baltimore area while the lawsuits continue Ship sailed on to China.

Apostleship of the Sea, a non-profit organization, supports them.

Apostleship told WJZ on Friday that the crew members are doing well, as expected, and that this settlement does not change their current situation.

The organization said it will continue to support the crew while they are here.