Dali stuck under a section of Francis Scott Key Bridge following its collision with the structure (Picture credit: AP)
FBI agents on Saturday boarded a ship managed by Synergy Marine Group, the same company linked to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore that killed six. The FBI confirmed the inspection of the Maersk Saltoro at the Port of Baltimore, according to an AP report.
The FBI, the US Environmental Protection Agency‘s Criminal Investigation Division, and Coast Guard Investigative Services are carrying out court-authorized law enforcement activity on the vessel, according to a New York Times report citing authorities.
Both Maersk Saltoro and earlier vessel, Dali, involved in the collapse are managed by the Singapore-based Synergy Marine Group.
The operation comes three days after the US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the Dali’s owner and operator, accusing them of being “grossly negligent” and “reckless” in the lead-up to the March collision. The government seeks over $100 million in damages for emergency response and federal aid to port employees affected by the incident. The lawsuit follows an NTSB preliminary report in May detailing the ship’s electrical issues prior to the bridge collapse.
Officials did not disclose whether Saturday’s boarding was connected to the Justice Department’s lawsuit or another investigation.
The Maersk Saltoro, under the Singaporean flag, was set to depart for Sri Lanka, according to VesselFinder.
The FBI, the US Environmental Protection Agency‘s Criminal Investigation Division, and Coast Guard Investigative Services are carrying out court-authorized law enforcement activity on the vessel, according to a New York Times report citing authorities.
Both Maersk Saltoro and earlier vessel, Dali, involved in the collapse are managed by the Singapore-based Synergy Marine Group.
The operation comes three days after the US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the Dali’s owner and operator, accusing them of being “grossly negligent” and “reckless” in the lead-up to the March collision. The government seeks over $100 million in damages for emergency response and federal aid to port employees affected by the incident. The lawsuit follows an NTSB preliminary report in May detailing the ship’s electrical issues prior to the bridge collapse.
Officials did not disclose whether Saturday’s boarding was connected to the Justice Department’s lawsuit or another investigation.
The Maersk Saltoro, under the Singaporean flag, was set to depart for Sri Lanka, according to VesselFinder.
The collapse occurred on March 26 when the cargo ship Dali lost power and struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, killing six maintenance workers. However, the crew of the Dali was not injured. It took authorities six weeks to recover all the bodies. The families of three victims announced their own lawsuit against the Dali’s owner on Tuesday.
The FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
Source : Times of India
