The owner and operator of the cargo ship involved in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore has agreed to pay $102 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement will cover federal costs incurred to respond to the disaster, which claimed six lives and shut down the Fort McHenry Shipping Channel. The Justice Department alleged that the ship’s owner and operator were negligent in maintaining the vessel’s electrical and mechanical systems, leading to the collapse. Over 50 agencies worked to clear debris from the channel and restore operations. The settlement does not include damages for rebuilding the bridge, which is estimated to cost up to $1.9 billion. The state of Maryland also filed a separate claim for additional costs. The ship lost power before hitting the bridge due to improperly maintained equipment and makeshift changes made by the crew. The lawsuit alleged that these modifications violated safety regulations and led to the collapse. Investigations are ongoing, with the FBI looking into the incident and the National Transportation Safety Board releasing a preliminary report highlighting the ship’s power loss before the crash.
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