The March 26, 2024 collision between the M/V Dali (Dali) and the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Key Bridge) tragically resulted in the death of six construction workers and property losses that will reach billions of dollars. The Key Bridge incident garnered significant media and political attention.
The Dali-Key Bridge incident also put focus on a little-known shipping law, the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851 (Limitation Act) that could potentially allow the Dali’s owners/ operators to limit liability for claims arising out of the incident to approximately US$44 million. In response to the Key Bridge incident, the “Justice for Victims of Foreign Vessel Accidents Act” (H.R.9348), was recently introduced in the US Congress, a piece of legislation which could radically alter the application of the Limitation Act to foreign vessel owners and operators.
