Federal prosecutors have announced criminal charges against two companies and an employee following the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which occurred when the container ship Dali crashed into the structure more than two years ago. The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday unveiled a grand jury indictment charging Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, based in Singapore, Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, based in India, and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, the Dali’s technical superintendent, with conspiracy, obstruction, false statements, and willfully failing to inform the Coast Guard of a hazardous condition.
The bridge collapse killed six highway workers and cut off one of the nation’s busiest ports, with officials estimating replacement costs between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion.
The Justice Department alleges Synergy employees fabricated safety inspections and certifications related to the Dali’s critical systems and directed improper modifications to the vessel’s fuel pumps. Prosecutors say these changes caused a blackout and prevented the ship from regaining power in time to avoid the crash. The indictment claims Nair, an Indian national believed to be in India, lied to investigators about his knowledge of the improper pump use.
Investigators from the FBI, U.S. Coast Guard, and Environmental Protection Agency spent two years probing the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the immediate cause was a loose wire that led to a loss of power, compounded by the improper use of flushing pumps. The NTSB also criticized Synergy Marine for not having adequate policies to prevent such failures and noted the Maryland Transportation Authority had not conducted a vulnerability assessment of the bridge.
The charges come as several civil lawsuits remain pending, with a related trial scheduled to begin in early June. The Dali’s owners and operators have already settled with federal and state authorities for hundreds of millions of dollars, but litigation with victims’ families and businesses continues.
Synergy Marine disputes the criminal allegations, stating the NTSB found the probable cause was a technical defect outside its control, and criticized the timing of the charges ahead of the civil trial.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called the collapse “a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,” emphasizing that the indictment is a critical step toward accountability. Federal officials continue to seek Nair’s extradition.
Maryland officials anticipate the new bridge will reopen in late 2030.
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