The company that chartered the cargo ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was recently sanctioned by regulators for blocking its employees from directly reporting safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard — in violation of a seaman whistleblower protection law, according to regulatory filings reviewed by The Lever.

Eight months before a Maersk Line Limited-chartered cargo ship crashed into the Baltimore bridge, likely killing six people and injuring others, the Labor Department sanctioned the shipping conglomerate for retaliating against an employee who reported unsafe working conditions aboard a Maersk-operated boat. In its order, the department found that Maersk had “a policy that requires employees to first report their concerns to [Maersk]… prior to reporting it to the [Coast Guard] or other authorities.”

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      78 months ago

      The amount of money this company just cost the US economy is why they are going to hold whatever company is ultimately found to be at fault accountable.

      In this case one company just brought shipping from one of the largest ports on the eastern seaboard to a complete halt. If maersk is at fault they will have hefty fines to pay. But we don’t know the ultimate cause of the ship losing power yet.

      The money being lost is more important than corporate privilege.

        • @MB420GFY
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          98 months ago

          oh, i see. you’re one of those lurkers whose sole purpose is to shit talk about democrats. are you working from a propaganda farm, or do you do this for fun in your spare time?

          if you’ll look back, it was actually bush that was in office when the '08 crash started and he said he wasn’t going to do shit. obama just toed the line after him, you disingenuous fuck.

          don’t come back with your both sides BS either. or do. i’ll school you on that line of reasoning too.

    • @24_at_the_withers
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      78 months ago

      Maybe not if it were an American company on the brink of collapse, but Maersk is a Danish company - and an exceptionally wealthy/profitable one at that. The cities, governments, and companies that are all affected by this will be eager to collect their pound of flesh from Maersk.

        • @24_at_the_withers
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          78 months ago

          Uh, the normal way. Fines, lawsuits and potentially sanctions, if needed.

          • @24_at_the_withers
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            68 months ago

            This happened in port, not international waters. Normal rules will apply. Seizing assets from a foreign company may be a little more difficult if it comes to that, but it’d probably be in Maersk’s best interest to pay up rather than lose the ability to do business in the U.S.

    • @Organichedgehog
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      -48 months ago

      Lol I’m with ya bud. Corporations being held liable doesn’t happen in the US. $$$$ makes the rules.

        • @Organichedgehog
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          -28 months ago

          Making the democrats the only viable party would be the worst possible outcome besides repubs being the only viable party. The Democrats are just as beholden to corporate ownership as the repubs. Democrats unopposed would be fucking monsters.

          • @MB420GFY
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            -28 months ago

            someone doesn’t understand how politics work. look into the whig party and get back to me. don’t spread misinformed opinions, it’s dangerous.

            • @Organichedgehog
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              -38 months ago

              Look up the definition of “viable” before you spout off like you understand anything at all