In a legal filing against Synergy Marine, the manager of the Dali, and Grace Ocean, the ship's owner, attorneys for the city accused both companies of being "grossly and potentially criminally negligent."
The allegations came in response to a petition filed in Maryland federal court by the firms, which are both based in Singapore, asking for their liability in the bridge disaster to be capped at $43.6 million.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and the city council are contesting the petition, asking for no limit to be enacted.
Their filing contains a litany of allegations blaming Synergy Marine and Grace Ocean for negligence and reckless management that resulted in the bridge's collapse on March 26.
"Reporting has indicated that, even before leaving port, alarms showing an inconsistent power supply on the Dali had sounded," the court petition reads. "The Dali left port anyway, despite its clearly unseaworthy conditio City officials further accused those in charge of the Dali of deploying an "incompetent crew" that was "inattentive to its duties," lacked proper training, and "failed to comply with local navigation customs."
A spokesperson for Synergy Marine said it would be inappropriate to comment on ongoing court proceedings. Grace Ocean did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.