In a landmark settlement, the Justice Department has reached a $103 million agreement with Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the owner of the ill-fated Dali container ship, over the devastating collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year.

The civil probe is separate from the still-ongoing criminal investigation by the department into the events that led to the vessel's collision with the bridge.

The settlement will cover the federal costs incurred responding to the disaster, including clearing the debris to reopen the shipping channel in June.

The owner and operator of the ship that brought down Baltimore’s Key Bridge agreed to pay a $102 million fine, covering the costs the U.S. incurred responding to the disaster.

A $101,980,000 settlement has been reached between the United States Department of Justice (USDJ) and the owners of the DALI for their role in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge​ in March.

Two Singaporean companies who owned the ship that rammed into and brought down Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge have agreed to pay just under $102m to settle a claim filed by the US government.

The funds will go to the budgets of federal agencies affected by the collision. Others, including the state of Maryland, are pursuing separate damages.

"The settlement strictly covers costs related to clearing the channel, which we would have been responsible for in any case, and is not indicative of any liability," said a spokesman for Dali operator Synergy Marine Group.

The settlement comes a month after the Justice Department sued the ship’s owner Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and manager Synergy Marine Group.

The Justice Department and the owner of the container ship that crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year have reached a settlement, with the ship owner agreeing to pay $100 million in civil penalties to cover the costs of responding to the disaster.