The City of Baltimore is taking a strong stance against the owner and manager of the cargo ship, Dali, that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month. The city filed court documents on Monday stating that Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine, both based in Singapore, should not be allowed to avoid legal liability for the accident. The 985-foot-long ship lost power and hit the bridge, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and a major disruption to the Port of Baltimore and the shipping industry along the East Coast.

The companies have asked a federal judge in Maryland to exonerate them from liability, arguing that the accident was not due to any fault or negligence on their part. However, the city's lawyers argue that the companies should be held liable for any damages that can be awarded during a jury trial. They accuse Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine of carelessness, negligence, gross negligence, and recklessness, as well as the unseaworthiness of the vessel.

The city is demanding a jury trial and rejecting the companies' attempt to limit their liability to approximately $43.7 million, which is the estimated value of the ship and its freight at the time of the accident. Baltimore leaders argue that the economic impacts of the accident, including the closure of the Port of Baltimore and disruption to the shipping industry, could be devastating for the region.

Meanwhile, salvage crews are working to remove the debris from the collapsed bridge in the Patapsco River. The main shipping channel is expected to remain closed for several more weeks, further impacting maritime traffic through the area. The FBI has also launched a criminal investigation into the incident, and the National Transportation Safety Board is looking into the ship's electrical system to determine if there were power issues before the voyage.

Overall, the city of Baltimore is pushing for accountability and justice for the victims of the bridge collapse and the economic losses suffered as a result of the accident. The legal battle between the city and the ship's owners and managers is likely to continue for some time as the full extent of the damages and liability are determined.