Mon Sep 23 15:11:00 UTC 2024: ## FBI Raids Ship Linked to Deadly Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Baltimore, MD – Federal agents on Saturday boarded the Maersk Saltoro, a vessel managed by Synergy Marine Group, the same company responsible for the cargo ship that caused the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. This comes several months after investigators conducted a similar search of the Dali, the ship involved in the bridge collapse.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland confirmed the raid, stating it was conducted under a court-authorized warrant. While authorities offered no specifics, the raid suggests a potential link between the Saltoro and the events leading to the bridge collapse.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit earlier this week alleging that the Dali’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and manager, Synergy Marine, recklessly disregarded known electrical issues on the vessel, leading to its power loss and subsequent crash into the bridge support column. The lawsuit claims the ship’s mechanical and electrical systems were “jury-rigged” and poorly maintained, culminating in a series of failures that left the crew helpless.
Six road work crew members were killed in the collapse, and the incident disrupted commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore for months. The Justice Department is seeking over $100 million in damages to cover the cost of debris removal and port reopening.
The lawsuit emphasizes the need to deter such reckless behavior by ship owners and operators, particularly since the Dali and the Saltoro are “sister ships,” both operating in U.S. waters.
A Grace Ocean spokesperson confirmed the FBI and Coast Guard boarding of the Saltoro and reiterated the company’s intent to “set the record straight” in court.
The FBI previously boarded the Dali in April, and the ship departed Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday for China, its first international voyage since the disaster. The Justice Department has refused to comment on whether a criminal investigation into the bridge collapse is ongoing.
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