The owners of a container ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge have been ordered by the U.S. government to pay over $100 million in damages, according to a recent announcement from the Department of Justice.

Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the companies responsible for the operation of the Dali, agreed to this amount, effectively resolving a month-long civil lawsuit. This collision, which occurred on March 26 and tragically resulted in the deaths of six individuals, has been labeled by the justice department as “one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory.”

The awarded damages will be allocated to the U.S. Treasury and various federal agencies that were directly impacted by the event or involved in the subsequent response. “This is a tremendous outcome that fully compensates the United States for the costs it incurred in responding to this disaster and holds the owner and operator of the Dali accountable,” stated Brian Boynton, the head of the Department of Justice’s civil division, in a press release issued on Thursday.

Importantly, the settlement does not cover any costs associated with the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, as the state has filed a separate claim for those damages. A spokesperson for Synergy mentioned that the settlement “strictly covers costs related to clearing the channel” and should not be interpreted as an indication of liability. “No punitive damages have been imposed as part of this settlement. In accordance with the settlement, the United States has dismissed its claim,” the spokesperson added.

The U.S. government attributed the incident to failures in the electrical and mechanical systems of the ship, claiming that inadequate maintenance led to the Dali losing power and subsequently crashing into a bridge column. The collision sadly resulted in the deaths of six construction workers who were repairing potholes on the bridge at the time.

The aftermath of the incident saw tons of debris deposited into the Patapsco River, significantly disrupting traffic at one of the busiest ports in the country. In response, a coordinated effort involving dozens of federal, state, and local agencies was initiated to clear 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt from both the shipping channel and the Dali itself.

In addition to the immediate tragic loss of life, the bridge collapse caused severe “economic devastation,” stalling shipping operations until the Port of Baltimore was able to reopen for commercial navigation in June. The incident also created significant traffic issues for local commuters, blocking a vital route.