Maryland Reaches Settlement Over Key Bridge Collapse

State resolves claims against ship owner and operator after 2024 disaster.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:00pm

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a polished metal ship's hull fragment, a cracked concrete bridge support, and a pile of twisted steel rebar, conceptually representing the complex aftermath of the Key Bridge collapse.The legal settlement represents progress, but the full cost of the Key Bridge disaster continues to reverberate across Maryland.Baltimore Today

Maryland has reached a settlement in principle with the owner and operator of the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024, Attorney General Anthony Brown announced. The settlement resolves a portion of the state's claims, not including any potential claims against the shipbuilder.

Why it matters

The 2024 bridge collapse disrupted the Port of Baltimore, devastated livelihoods, and sent economic shockwaves across the state. This settlement is an important step toward making Maryland whole after the disaster.

The details

The state's claims were filed in U.S. District Court in September 2024, alleging negligence, mismanagement, and the reckless operation of a vessel that was not seaworthy and should never have left port. The state sought damages on behalf of its agencies for the destruction of the bridge, harm to the Patapsco River and surrounding environment, lost revenues, and the wide-ranging economic losses sustained by Maryland and its residents.

  • The Dali container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024.
  • Maryland filed its claims in U.S. District Court in September 2024.
  • The settlement is being finalized, the attorney general's office said.

The players

Anthony Brown

Maryland Attorney General who announced the settlement.

Grace Ocean Private Limited

The owner of the Dali container ship that crashed into the Key Bridge.

Synergy Marine Pte Ltd.

The operator of the Dali container ship that crashed into the Key Bridge.

Hyundai

The shipbuilder of the Dali container ship.

ACE

The insurer of the Key Bridge, which is part of the company Chubb.

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What they’re saying

“For two years, Maryland workers, families and communities have carried the weight of a disaster that should never have happened. The Dali's crash into the Key Bridge disrupted the Port of Baltimore, devastated livelihoods, and sent economic shockwaves across our State that are still being felt today. Our work is not finished, but this settlement is an important step toward making Maryland whole.”

— Anthony Brown, Maryland Attorney General

What’s next

The settlement is being finalized, the attorney general's office said. The state may still have claims against the shipbuilder, Hyundai.

The takeaway

This settlement represents progress in Maryland's efforts to recover from the devastating 2024 Key Bridge collapse, but the state still faces a long road ahead to fully address the widespread economic and environmental impacts of the disaster.