US Justice Department sues ship owner over clear-up costs of collapsed bridge

The cargo ship Dali was stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge in March (Maryland National Guard via AP, File)

The US Justice Department on Wednesday sued the owner and manager of the cargo ship that caused the Baltimore bridge collapse, seeking to recover more than 100 million US dollars (£75 million) that the government spent to clear the underwater debris and reopen the city’s port.

The lawsuit filed in Maryland alleges that the electrical and mechanical systems on the ship, the Dali, were improperly maintained, causing it to lose power and veer off course before striking a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.