Dali Owners Sue Shipyard Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Image of the Francis Scott Key Bridge before its collapse

The owners and managers of the cargo ship Dali, which struck and destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last March, have filed a lawsuit against South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), alleging a critical design flaw in the vessel’s electrical systems.

According to a complaint lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, plaintiffs Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine PTE Ltd claim that a defectively designed switchboard aboard the nine-year-old vessel caused a power outage, leading to the fatal collision. The incident claimed six lives, shut down Baltimore’s port for months, and caused extensive regional traffic disruption.

Court filings allege that wiring within the switchboard was not securely connected, allowing a critical signal wire to loosen during normal operations. This, the plaintiffs argue, rendered the vessel “unreasonably dangerous” when it left HHI’s control. A National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report revealed the Dali experienced multiple electrical blackouts — four in a 12-hour window — prior to the collision.

The U.S. Justice Department has already pursued legal action against the ship’s owners and managers, accusing them of ignoring known electrical faults, including excessive vibrations affecting onboard systems. Those cases resulted in a settlement exceeding $102 million to cover cleanup costs.

While Grace Ocean and Synergy seek to shift part of the liability to the shipbuilder, legal experts caution that proving the claim may be difficult given the vessel’s age and regular inspection schedule. The Dali was due for its second mandatory five-year inspection in 2024.

Demolition work on the bridge’s remains is ongoing, with Maryland officials expecting a replacement span to open by 2028.