The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently reached a $100 million settlement with Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Group, the Singapore-based owner and operator of the cargo ship Dali, responsible for a bridge collapse in Baltimore.

Investigations revealed that the Dali experienced power loss due to "jury-rigged" transformers and maintenance failures, causing it to veer into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, tragically killing six workers and disrupting Baltimore's port operations. The settlement will fund cleanup but excludes bridge reconstruction costs.

The DOJ claims the company's negligent maintenance practices, especially surrounding transformer and electrical systems, caused the incident. Excessive vibrations, cracked equipment, and a disabled backup transformer created a cascade of failures, eventually rendering the crew unable to steer the vessel. This incident highlights how neglected transformer maintenance can jeopardize both infrastructure and public safety, emphasizing the importance of stringent maintenance and testing for transformers on commercial vessels.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, The Associated Press