DOJ: Preventable Failures Aboard Cargo Ship Led to Key Bridge Disaster
Criminal charges are filed against the shipping company and subsidiaries whose massive container ship the Dali hit Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024. The collision caused the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River, killing six construction workers on the bridge at the time. Economic damage is estimated at more than $5 billion.
“The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
In an unsealed indictment, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged entities of Singapore-based Synergy Marine Group, India-based Synergy Maritime, and the Dali’s technical supervisor Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair following a two-year investigation.
Prosecutors say the defendants did not properly maintain systems aboard the Dali, contributing to unsafe conditions which left the Dali unable to recover from a blackout of its systems.
“They forged safety inspections and certifications. They falsely claimed the ship was in good working order, and then lied to investigators about their actions when they were questioned,” said FBI Baltimore Field Office special agent in charge Jimmy Paul.
Fuel Supply Pumps in Question
The indictment says the Dali lost power twice in a four-minute span as it navigated out to sea from the Port of Baltimore with a loose wire in a high-voltage switchboard likely causing the first power loss.
According to the indictment, the defendants altered the ship and relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the Dali’s four generators. But the flushing pump was not designed to automatically restart following blackout, causing the second blackout.
"The indictment alleges that if the Dali had been using the proper fuel supply pumps, then the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge," said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly Hayes.
The two Synergy corporations are also charged with misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Refuse Act for the discharge of pollutants into the Patapsco River.
The FBI, CGIS, and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case with assistance from DOJ’s Office of International Affairs
Law enforcement is working to bring Nair from India to the U.S. to face the charges.
Civil Trial Update
Meanwhile– a federal judge denied a request to delay the civil trial against the shipping companies, following the criminal charges.
“The right course, the best course, the most fair course, is to stay the course,” said Senior U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar at a pretrial hearing.
That trial is scheduled to begin June 1.
