The Infamous “Titanic” Law and the Key Bridge Collapse

On March 26, 2024, the Dali, a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship weighing 95,000 tons, lost power and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The collision resulted in loss of life for six construction workers, as well as disruptions to many supply chains, economic loss to the Baltimore region, a loss of a major transportation access to the Port of Baltimore, and increased car traffic congestion. Following the disaster, the state of Maryland, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the victims’ families filed lawsuits against the Dali owner (Grace Ocean Private Ltd.). This EBOT explains a long-standing maritime law that has been invoked by the Dali’s owner to limit its liability for losses related to the accident