Justice Department Charges Ship Operator and Superintendent in Baltimore Key Bridge Collapse

Federal prosecutors have indicted Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., India-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., and technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, in connection with the March 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. The incident resulted in the deaths of six construction workers and caused an estimated $5 billion in economic losses.

The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, willfully failing to inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and making false statements. Additionally, the two companies face misdemeanor violations of environmental laws for discharging pollutants into the Patapsco River.

According to the indictment, the container ship Dali experienced two power losses within four minutes while departing the Port of Baltimore, leading to the collision with the bridge. Investigations revealed that a loose wire in a high-voltage switchboard likely caused the initial power loss. The defendants allegedly modified the ship's systems to rely on a flushing pump for fuel supply to two of the four generators. This pump was not designed to automatically restart after a blackout, resulting in a second power loss that prevented the vessel from regaining control in time to avoid the collision.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, "The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence." He emphasized the commitment to holding accountable those whose disregard for maritime safety regulations led to the disaster.

The indictment also alleges that Nair provided false statements to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during its investigation, claiming unawareness of the ship's reliance on the flushing pump. The NTSB's final report identified the probable cause of the incident as a loss of electrical power due to a loose signal wire connection, a defect outside of Synergy Marine's control.

A bench trial is scheduled for June 1 in a separate civil case against the ship's owner and operator by the city of Baltimore and others, as the companies seek to limit their liability in the crash.

The Justice Department and the state of Maryland have previously reached settlement agreements with the owners and operators of the Dali.