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MV Dali Owners Invoke General Average

Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse Update: Grace Ocean, a Singapore-based shipping company, has invoked General Average on its vessel, the Maersk-operated Dali, following its involvement in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collision. 

This maritime principle requires all involved parties to share losses incurred, with each shipper’s contribution linked to their cargo’s value. 



Maersk has not officially commented, but MSC confirmed the declaration, and this decision indicates the anticipation of substantial salvage costs to be recovered from all involved parties. 

Cargo release requires providing General Average security, estimated based on damage costs. Insurers must then determine cargo values for full liability calculation, a process that historically takes years.

A New Dawn for Oversight - OSRA 2.0

The passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act (OSRA 2.0) by the US House of Representatives marks a pivotal moment in bolstering oversight and safeguarding the interests of US ports and shippers. Introduced by Representatives Dusty Johnson and John Garamendi, OSRA 2.0 builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, to address pressing concerns related to market manipulation, foreign influence, and fairness within the shipping industry.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore is definitely causing some headaches for carriers and importers along the East Coast. Baltimore handles a whopping 1.1 million TEU annually, meaning about 21,000 TEU weekly will have to find another route. With its super deep draught of 15.2 meters, Baltimore can accommodate some mega-sized vessels that other ports can’t handle.

Larger ports like New York/New Jersey and Virginia might be able to pick up the slack, but there’s only so much capacity to go around. The big question now is how fast carriers can reroute their shipments and if they can handle the extra load.

Claims of "unseaworthy" stalk MV Dali.

The city of Baltimore initiated a lawsuit against Grace Ocean and Synergy Group, alleging that MV Dali departed port in an unseaworthy state with an inadequately trained crew, leading to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Legal proceedings reveal conflicting narratives, with the defendants seeking exoneration or limited liability. The vessel's power outage and crew's alleged negligence raise questions about its operation and maintenance. Meanwhile, a controversial maneuver by the Baltimore pilot involving dropping the anchor adds complexity to the investigation, challenging initial assumptions about the incident's cause.