This settlement addresses damages totaling $103 million under the Rivers and Harbors Act, Oil Pollution Act, and maritime law. The funds will support the U.S. Treasury and several federal agencies directly impacted by the incident.

“Today’s settlement marks a major milestone, just seven months after one of the most devastating transportation disasters in recent history,” Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said. “Thanks to the diligence of Justice Department attorneys, we secured this early resolution, ensuring that the federal government’s response costs are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy—not the American taxpayer.”

On March 26, the Motor Vessel DALI suffered repeated power failures while navigating through the Fort McHenry Channel. This resulted in a tragic collision with the bridge, which claimed six lives and halted shipping through the Port of Baltimore. In response, the U.S. led a multi-agency effort, removing nearly 50,000 tons of debris and reopening the channel by June 10. Temporary channels helped reduce port congestion and mitigate economic impacts during the recovery.

The Justice Department’s civil lawsuit, filed in September, sought over $100 million in damages. Today’s settlement follows Grace Ocean’s $97,294 payment to the Coast Guard for pollution abatement. Maryland has filed its claim for bridge reconstruction costs, aiming to reduce taxpayer expenses for the rebuild.

This settlement represents accountability for Grace Ocean and Synergy and a commitment to public infrastructure resilience. Thanks to collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, the Port of Baltimore is again fully operational, and this settlement ensures that the U.S. government recoups significant response costs.