They had no insurance liability? I don’t buy that notion for an instant.
At minimum they are a conduit to the true ownership of that vessel.
My point is this: There is NO good reason for this to be laid on the backs of the American Taxpayers...NONE.
If you contract with a trucking company to carry a load to somewhere else, and their truck with your load, hits a bridge abutment and knocks the bridge down, are you responsible for the damages.