The owner of the Singapore-flagged ship involved in the Baltimore bridge collision faces significant damage claims after the accident caused vehicles to plummet into the water, disrupting the eastern US transportation network.

Legal experts suggest a potential reduction in liability under a rarely invoked 19th-century law, similar to the one used by the Titanic’s owner to limit payouts for its sinking.

At the heart of the legal ramifications is Grace Ocean, the Singapore-based company that owns the container ship Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge during a voyage chartered by Maersk.

Expected lawsuits could come from various sources, including the bridge’s owner and the families of six presumed deceased workers, the Straits Times reported.

While the ship owner is likely responsible for damages, an 1851 law could limit liability to the vessel’s post-accident value plus its earnings from onboard freight, potentially reducing the total payout.

This law aimed to prevent shipping companies from facing overwhelming losses due to maritime disasters, offering a path to mitigate the financial impact, albeit not entirely.

Written by B.C. Begley