Maryland’s $2.25 Billion Key Bridge Settlement With Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, What It Covers and What Individuals Can Do

On May 12, 2026, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a final $2.25 billion settlement between the State of Maryland and Grace Ocean Private Limited (owner) and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd (operator) of the M/V Dali. It resolves the State’s claims over the ship’s March 26, 2024 allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

This is a government recovery, not a consumer class action. The money goes to the State and its agencies. There is no claim form, no settlement website for the public, and no filing deadline for individuals or businesses under this agreement.

Some outlets reported the figure as about $2.5 billion. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s announcement says $2.25 billion, and that is the number used here.

Last Updated: October 5, 2026

Maryland Key Bridge Settlement: Quick Facts

Detail	What the record shows
Settlement amount	$2.25 billion (final settlement announced May 12, 2026)
Paying parties	Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd
Receiving parties	State of Maryland, including the Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland Port Administration and Maryland Department of the Environment
What it resolves	The State’s claims arising from the March 26, 2024 allision and bridge collapse
What it does not resolve	The State’s claims against shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries
Public claim form or deadline	None
Court case	In the Matter of the Petition of Grace Ocean Private Limited et al. for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, No. 1:24-cv-00941, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Judge James K. Bredar)
Parallel criminal case	Federal indictment unsealed May 12, 2026 against Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair

Why Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine Paid $2.25 Billion Instead of $43.7 Million

After the collapse, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine invoked the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, a maritime law that ties a shipowner’s liability to the vessel’s value after the disaster. They put that value at about $43.7 million.

Maryland filed its claim in the pending limitation action on September 24, 2024. In April 2026, with a June 1 trial approaching, the State announced a settlement in principle. According to the Attorney General’s office, the State examined the companies’ available resources, including insurance limits, and concluded the settlement maximizes the recovery available from the vessel interests.

The final $2.25 billion figure is more than 50 times the amount the companies first said they owed.

What the Maryland Key Bridge Settlement Covers

Maryland sought compensation for destruction of the bridge, environmental harm, lost toll revenue and other economic losses. The settlement covers claims brought for the State and for the Maryland Transportation Authority, the Maryland Port Administration and the Maryland Department of the Environment.

The Attorney General’s statement says the pursuit of justice “is not finished,” and the settlement leaves the State’s claims against Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Dali’s shipbuilder, untouched.

What Happened in the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

On March 26, 2024, the Singapore-flagged container ship M/V Dali struck a support pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore. The bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River. Six construction workers on the bridge died. The Port of Baltimore was disrupted for months.

This is separate from earlier resolutions. The U.S. Department of Justice reached a separate civil settlement of about $102 million with Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine in October 2024 over claims by federal agencies.

Federal Criminal Charges Against Synergy Marine, Synergy Maritime and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair

On the same day as the civil announcement, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment naming Synergy Marine Pte Ltd (Singapore), Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd (Chennai, India) and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, a technical superintendent who worked for both companies. Reporting on the charges describes conspiracy, obstruction and failure to disclose a known hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard.

An indictment is an accusation, not a finding of guilt. The criminal case runs separately from the civil settlement, and the settlement does not resolve it.

Can You Claim Money From the Maryland Key Bridge Settlement?

No. The $2.25 billion is payable to the State of Maryland. Individuals and businesses can’t file a claim against this fund, and there’s no administrator, notice or deadline.

If you think you have your own claim, these points matter:

• Families of the workers who died and people who were injured can pursue their own wrongful-death or personal-injury claims. The State’s settlement doesn’t release those.
• Businesses and others claiming economic losses face a hard legal barrier. Under long-standing maritime law, claims for purely economic loss without damage to your own property are often dismissed.
• Deadlines may apply. Limitation proceedings and statutes of limitations can bar late claims. Talk to a maritime or tort attorney promptly, and check the court docket for No. 1:24-cv-00941.

This article is legal information, not legal advice.

Maryland Key Bridge Litigation Timeline

Date	Event
March 26, 2024	M/V Dali strikes the Francis Scott Key Bridge; bridge collapses
September 24, 2024	Maryland files its claim in the limitation action
October 2024	Separate DOJ civil settlement of about $102 million
April 2026	Maryland announces settlement in principle; June 1 trial had been approaching
May 12, 2026	Final $2.25 billion settlement announced; criminal indictment unsealed
Ongoing	State claims against Hyundai Heavy Industries; federal criminal case; remaining private claims

Maryland Key Bridge Settlement: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Maryland’s Key Bridge settlement with Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine?

 $2.25 billion, according to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Some media reports said about $2.5 billion, but the official figure is $2.25 billion.

Is there a claim form or deadline for the Maryland Key Bridge settlement?

 No. It resolves only the State’s claims, and the money goes to the State and its agencies.

Does the settlement end the case against Hyundai Heavy Industries? 

No. The Attorney General’s office says it does not resolve the State’s claims against the shipbuilder.

Are the criminal charges against Synergy Marine part of the settlement? 

No. The indictment is a separate federal case, and the settlement doesn’t resolve it.

Can the families of the six workers still sue?

 The State’s settlement covers only the State’s claims. Families’ separate claims are not part of it. Ask a maritime or wrongful-death attorney about your case.

Where can I verify this? 

Maryland Office of the Attorney General press releases at oag.maryland.gov, the court docket for No. 1:24-cv-00941 (D. Md.), and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland releases on justice.gov.

Sources Used in This Key Bridge Settlement Article

• Maryland Office of the Attorney General, “Attorney General Brown Announces Final Settlement with Owners and Operators of the M/V Dali in Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse Case”: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/Pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces-Final-Settlement-with-Owners-and-Operators-of-the-MV-Dali-in-Francis-Scott-Key-Bridge-Col.aspx
• Engineering News-Record, “Dali Operator Faces Federal Charges in Key Bridge Incident” (indictment defendants): https://www.enr.com/articles/62993-dali-operator-faces-federal-charges-in-key-bridge-incident
• WorkBoat, “State of Maryland Reaches $2.25 Billion Settlement With Dali’s Owner, Operator” (agencies covered, Hyundai claims reserved): https://www.workboat.com/state-of-maryland-reaches-2-25-billion-settlement-with-dali-s-owner-operator
• Marine Insight, on the $2.5 billion reporting discrepancy and the October 2024 DOJ settlement: https://www.marineinsight.com/maryland-secures-highest-ever-marine-damage-payout-settlement-of-2-25-billion-over-baltimore-bridge-collapse/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s official announcement and published coverage of the federal indictment and court case, as of October 5, 2026. Last Updated: October 5, 2026.

Disclaimer: This is legal information, not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Check the court docket and consult an attorney about your own claim.