The Justice Department charged a foreign shipping company and an Indian national on Tuesday in connection with the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge more than two years ago.
The charges target Singapore and India-based entities of Synergy Marine, the operator of the motor vessel Dali, a container ship that caused billions of dollars in damage when it crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024. Also charged is 47-year-old Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, an Indian national who worked as the Dali’s technical superintendent and for Synergy Marine.
Nair and Synergy Marine are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with causing the death of six construction workers who were on the bridge at the time of its collapse.
“The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster.”
The indictment says the Dali lost power twice on March 26, 2024, while attempting to depart the Port of Baltimore. This power outage was caused by the ship’s lack of proper safety measures, according to prosecutors.
If the Dali had “used the proper fuel supply and booster pumps, then the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge,” the indictment said.
Following the crash, prosecutors say Nair and other Synergy officials lied to investigators about the ship’s emergency procedures and preparedness for power outages.
Similar power outages had occurred on other vessels operated by Synergy before the crash, but no corrective action had been taken or safeguards put in place, prosecutors said.
The indictment further claims that Synergy had “a history of failing to document and address significant safety risks. SYNERGY failed to report hazards, casualties, and other safety issues to the United States Coast Guard (‘U.S. Coast Guard’) and other regulatory authorities. SYNERGY shoreside technical managers fabricated and directed the fabrication of safety inspections and certifications related to many vessel systems, including the fuel supply system.”
Both Synergy entities are also charged with violations of the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Refuse Act related to the discharge of pollutants into the Patapsco River in Maryland.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced Tuesday that the state has reached a $2.25 billion settlement with Synergy over charges related to the bridge collapse.
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