New Bill To Hold Foreign Vessel Owners Accountable For Maritime Accidents In U.S. Waters. A new draft law holds owners of trespassing vessels liable for maritime accidents in US waters.
US Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) has introduced a new bill that would improve the return of cuentas. And the financial liability of offshore vessel owners for maritime accidents in US.
The bill, titled “Justice for Victims of Foreign Vessel Accidents Act” (H.R.9348), was introduced to the House of Representatives by State Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA-04). Its purpose is to prevent foreign shipowners from escaping significant liability.
The decision is a direct response to the March 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Which was transported by the Singapore-flagged container M/V Dali. Above all, the tragedy involved six workers working on the bridge in different months and around the Port of Baltimore, affecting regional trade.
We firmly believe that foreign owners can avoid financial responsibility for those responsible for the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Furthermore, he stressed that access to ports and resident consumers is a privilege, not a right. And the owners of the M/V Dali must assume full financial responsibility.
In addition to the checks that the owners must hide, they also have their own security company. And pay their fair share of the cost of replacing the bridge and compensation to the families of the former workers who unfortunately lost their lives.
Bill Targets Foreign Vessel Owners for U.S. Maritime Accidents
The project will increase the liability limits of ships with additional flags until the value of the ship and its cargo is met. This significantly differs from current law, specifically the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851. Which allows ship owners to limit their liability to the financial value of the ship and its cargo.
Additionally, the bill maintains the current liability limits for ships flying fixed flags without any prohibition. The project will also be implemented on March 25, 2024, the night before the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The provision specifically targets Grace Ocean Private Ltd., a Singapore-based Daly-owned company. The company’s principal, Synergy Marine Group, is jointly filing a petition with the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, stipulating that its liability after the accident is $43.7 million.
The estimated cost of repairing the missing bridge is $1,700. And the Biden administration has eliminated federal aid for the same cost.
The law has been supported by the families of the workers who died in the tragic accident. The legal representatives of the families condemned the significance of the legislation in a statement. Emphasizing that it goes beyond the legal policy of the state and focuses on protecting innocent tragedies caused by strangers.
After continuing its investigation into the boat collapse, the city of Baltimore accused the owner of gross negligence. Furthermore, it claimed that Daly was “clearly not qualified for transportation” at the time of the accident.
However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) documented the circumstances leading to the accident but did not determine a probable cause.
