Big Oil Could Help Shipowner Avoid Liability For Bridge Collapse

The company that owns the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last week is trying to use a 173-year-old law to cap the damages it may have to pay, including potential compensation to families of the six workers killed in the disaster.

The effort comes after Big Oil and shipping interests — including the company that chartered last week’s out-of-control ship — successfully lobbied to block 2010 reforms to this so-called Titanic Law.