US Government Sues Ship Companies After Bridge Crash

May 12, 2026, 15:56
AsiaPolitics

Introduction

The US government is taking two ship companies and one manager to court. They caused a big ship to hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024.

Main Body

The companies are from Singapore and India. The government says they lied and did not follow safety rules. Oil and trash fell into the river after the crash. The ship lost power two times. A wire was loose. The company used wrong pumps for fuel. Because of this, the ship could not move and hit the bridge. The bridge cost a lot of money to fix. The Port of Baltimore closed for two months. It will cost about 5 billion dollars to build the bridge again by 2030.

Conclusion

The companies are in court now. Workers are still building the new bridge.

Learning

πŸ” Spotting the "Past"

In this story, we see words that tell us something already happened. Look at how the words change:

  • hit β†’ (Stayed the same!)
  • lost β†’ (from lose)
  • closed β†’ (added -ed)
  • lied β†’ (added -ed)

πŸ’‘ The "Because" Chain

Beginners often use short sentences. To reach A2, use 'Because of this' to connect two ideas together. It explains the reason why something happened.

Example from text:

  • Fact 1: The ship used wrong pumps.
  • Fact 2: The ship hit the bridge.
  • Connection: "Because of this, the ship could not move and hit the bridge."

πŸ“¦ Money & Numbers

When talking about big costs, we use this pattern: It will cost β†’ Amount β†’ To [Action]

Pattern: It will cost about 5 billion dollars to build the bridge again.

  • Simple version: It costs money to fix.

Vocabulary Learning

bridge
A long structure that allows people or vehicles to cross over a water, road, or other obstacle.
Example:The bridge over the river was closed for repairs.
safety
The condition of being protected from danger or harm.
Example:The company must follow safety rules to protect workers.
rules
A set of instructions or guidelines that people must follow.
Example:The government said the companies did not follow safety rules.
oil
A thick liquid that comes from the ground and is used as fuel or for making products.
Example:Oil fell into the river after the crash.
trash
Waste or garbage that is no longer needed.
Example:Trash was found in the river after the accident.
river
A natural waterway that flows toward a sea, lake, or another river.
Example:The ship crashed into the bridge over the river.
wire
A thin metal strand used to carry electricity or connect parts.
Example:A wire was loose on the ship.
pumps
Machines that move liquid from one place to another.
Example:The company used wrong pumps for fuel.