The owner of Dali, the 984-foot vessel that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge last week, is already taking steps to limit liability in the accident.
The Singaporean company released a preemptive six-page filing in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore from Grace Ocean Private Limited, and the managing company, Synergy Marine Group, in anticipation of civil lawsuits that are certain to come due to the catastrophic debacle.
They asked the court to "issue an order enjoining the commencement of or further prosecution of any claims or causes of action against Petitioners except in this action" and that the court "determine that Petitioners are not liable for any loss or damage arising out of the Casualty."
"In the alternative, if the Court determines that Owner and/or Synergy is liable," the filing asks "that such liability be limited to the value of the Vessel and its pending freight in connection with the voyage, and that Petitioner(s) be discharged therefrom upon the surrender of such interest, and that the money surrendered, paid, or secured to be paid be divided pro-rata among the claimants that are successful in proving their claims, reserving to all parties any priorities to which they may be legally entitled, and that a decree may be entered discharging Petitioner(s) from all further liability."
The filing notes the pending freight is estimated at $1.17 million.
In the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, a shipowner can try to limit the amount they have to pay if their ship is involved in an accident to the value of the ship.
In addition to the six victims, two other workers were rescued from the water. A group of attorneys from Baltimore and Washington DC represented the company.
