Judge dismisses Dali lawsuit against shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries over the fatal 2024 Key Bridge collapse. The ruling removes one attempt by the vessel’s owner and manager to shift responsibility toward the South Korean manufacturer, the Baltimore Chronicle editorial team notes.
The dismissal was reported by CBS Baltimore. Official findings and related proceedings appear in records from the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Why the Dali lawsuit was filed
Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited sued Hyundai Heavy Industries in Pennsylvania federal court.
They alleged that the shipbuilder had defectively designed the Dali’s electrical switchboard. According to the complaint, a label near a critical cable detached and contributed to an open circuit breaker.
The companies argued that the resulting blackout disabled steering before the vessel struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. Six road workers died when the bridge collapsed.
Key allegations included:
- an unsafe switchboard design;
- an unsecured electrical connection;
- loss of power and steering;
- manufacturer responsibility for the defect.
The judge dismissed the claim against Hyundai Heavy Industries. The reported ruling does not end the wider civil and criminal proceedings connected with the disaster.
What investigators found about the blackouts
The NTSB concluded that a loose signal-wire connection caused the first underway blackout. The vessel then suffered another blackout while approaching the bridge.
The electrical failure removed propulsion and steering when the Dali had little time or distance to recover.
| Key fact | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|
| Collision date | March 26, 2024 |
| Vessel | M/V Dali |
| Fatalities | 6 construction workers |
| Main technical finding | Loose signal-wire connection |
| Lawsuit defendant | Hyundai Heavy Industries |
| Court result | Lawsuit dismissed |
Federal prosecutors are separately pursuing charges against corporate operators and a technical superintendent. Prosecutors allege that an unsafe flushing pump supplied fuel to generators without normal redundancy.
Key Bridge rebuild remains scheduled for 2030
Maryland estimates the replacement bridge will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion. The anticipated opening date remains late 2030.
The new structure is expected to include stronger vessel-collision protection and greater clearance for large ships. Maryland ended its earlier arrangement with the progressive design-build contractor and divided the work into separate procurements.
Earlier we wrote that Maryland special session opens fight over congressional redistricting rules