The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that a grand jury has charged two foreign firms and a shoreside superintendent in connection with the March 2024 collision involving the 300-meter cargo ship Dali, which resulted in the destruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and the tragic deaths of six construction workers. Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., headquartered in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., based in Chennai, India, along with Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, a 47-year-old Indian national who served as the technical superintendent for the Dali, are facing charges including conspiracy, failure to promptly report a hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard, obstruction of agency proceedings, and making false statements.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the collapse of the bridge as a preventable tragedy with significant consequences. Nair, who is believed to be in India, may face extradition to the U.S. as part of the legal proceedings. The indictment accuses the companies and Nair of conspiring to defraud the United States and of being responsible for the deaths of the six workers on the bridge, among other offenses.
Additionally, the two Synergy corporations are charged with violating environmental laws by discharging pollutants into the Patapsco River. According to the indictment, the Dali experienced two power failures within a short timeframe while departing the Port of Baltimore, leading to the collision with the Key Bridge. The prosecution alleges that the defendants relied on an inadequate fuel supply system, which prevented the ship’s generators from operating, ultimately resulting in the tragic incident.
A recent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that electrical blackouts caused by technical issues onboard the Dali contributed to the loss of control of the vessel before the collision. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge caused extensive damages estimated at over $5 billion, in addition to significant environmental harm. The incident disrupted shipping operations at the Port of Baltimore, impacted local communities, and created economic challenges across the state.
The indictment follows a civil settlement between the state, Synergy Marine, and Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the ship owner based in Singapore. This settlement, announced by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown in April, aimed to address claims of negligence, mismanagement, and the unseaworthiness of the vessel involved in the collision. The settlement details remain undisclosed, with some aspects of the legal case still pending resolution.