Ship owner in Baltimore bridge collapse seeks to blame others as liability case takes shape

abcnews.go.com:

The owner and manager of the container ship Dali are seeking to minimize their responsibility for the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse

BALTIMORE — As a sprawling liability case takes shape following the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, the owner and manager of the container ship Dali are seeking to deflect responsibility and cast blame elsewhere.

Attorneys for Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group argued in court Tuesday that Maryland state officials should have better protected the bridge against ship strikes. They also raised questions about whether the shipbuilder installed faulty electrical equipment that caused the Dali to lose power as it approached the bridge.

Meanwhile, lawyers for dozens of claimants seeking damages argued that the immediate focus should remain on where the two companies dropped the ball.

“It’s not an offensive tool,” said attorney David Reisman, who represents the state of Maryland. He argued the court shouldn’t consider such allegations from the companies this early in the litigation process.

Among the claimants are the families of six construction workers killed in the collapse as well as state and local governments, businesses, longshoremen and more. They’ve accused Grace Ocean and Synergy of failing to properly maintain the Dali, ignoring longstanding problems with its electrical system and knowingly sending an unseaworthy vessel into Maryland waters.

Shortly after the March 26 collapse, the companies filed a petition in federal court in Baltimore seeking to limit their liability. Since then, nearly 50 other entities have filed opposing claims in the case.

At a scheduling conference Tuesday, Judge James Bredar questioned