Justice Department files $100 million lawsuit against owner of ship that rammed into Baltimore's Key Bridge

The Justice Department on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the owner and operator of the container ship that rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, seeking $100 million in damages for the structure's collapse, which killed six construction workers and led to massive economic losses.

On a call with reporters, Justice Department officials said the Singapore-based companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, were "well-aware" of issues on the ship, the Dali, that could cause power outages prior to the accident. The massive vessel struck one of the bridge's columns in the early morning hours of March 26 after it lost power, causing a section of the structure to collapse into the water.

"The civil claims filed today alleges that the collision was caused by a series of catastrophic failures on board the Dali in the minutes before impact, all as a consequence of the alleged negligence," U.S. Attorney Erek Barron for the District of Maryland said on the call.