Following the catastrophic collapse earlier this year of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge upon impact with a vessel, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., is co-sponsoring a bill to increase the limit on the ship owner’s liability for the disaster.
Currently, ship owners can petition in federal court to cap liability for such events at the cost of the ship and its cargo, excluding expenses. Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., which owns the ship named Dali, and the vessel’s manager Synergy Marine Group filed a joint petition in April to cap their monetary liability for the collapse at $43.7 million.
The “Justice for Victims of Foreign Vessel Accidents Act,” introduced by Johnson and U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Ca. in the House on Tuesday, would increase the maximum liability for foreign-flagged ships to up to 10 times the combined cost of the ship and its cargo, excluding expenses. The bill would apply retroactively starting the day before the bridge disaster. If passed, Grace Ocean could pay up to $854 million in damages for the collapse.
“This is a crucial step toward ensuring accountability in maritime liability,” Johnson said in a Thursday press release. “By enhancing the financial responsibilities of foreign vessel owners, this bill provides essential support to victims and their families in reinforcing our resolve to uphold justice following tragic maritime incidents.”
The act would not change the liability limit for U.S.-flagged vessels. It aims to enforce a higher liability ceiling for foreign-flagged vessels.
On March 26, the Dali cargo ship struck the Key Bridge, causing it to crash into the Patapsco River. Six construction workers died in the collapse.
