BALTIMORE – The operator of a ship from Singapore, which collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, has been indicted along with several key employees, according to federal prosecutors’ announcement on Tuesday. The crash resulted in the bridge’s collapse and the deaths of six individuals.
The indictment lists Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. from Singapore and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd. based in Chennai, India. Additionally, 47-year-old Radhakrishnan Kartik Nair, the technical supervisor of the ship named Dali, faces charges as well.
The incident occurred on March 26, 2024, while construction workers were repairing a hole in the bridge.
The charges against the companies and Nair include conspiracy to fail to promptly report a known hazardous condition, obstruction of a government process, and making false statements to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Investigations by the FBI have centered on the ship’s operations to determine if the crew was aware of critical system failures prior to leaving port.
The National Transportation Safety Board previously reported that two power outages contributed to the ship losing control. One was due to a loose wire, while the other involved a fuel pump issue. This loss of steering ultimately led to the collision with the bridge.
At about 1:30 AM, the Dali, which was en route from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, crashed into a bridge support after its steering failed.
Maryland officials have projected that the cost to replace the bridge could range from $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion, with an estimated completion date in late 2030.
However, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office noted that the true ramifications of the crash are far-reaching. The incident disrupted shipping activities at the Port of Baltimore, affected the lives of countless individuals, rerouted traffic through already disadvantaged neighborhoods, and led to broader economic issues throughout the state.
- The Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship, reportedly lost propulsion and attempted to inform authorities of the impending crash.
- Authorities have reported six individuals missing, while two were rescued from the river.
- Seven vehicles fell off the 2.6-mile-long bridge, and search efforts with sonar technology are underway to locate them.
- Video footage captured the ship’s power flickering moments before the crash, then it regained power.
- A local resident described the bridge’s collapse as feeling like his entire house was coming down.
- Interestingly, Dali was previously involved in a collision in 2016 while departing from the Belgian port of Antwerp.
The charges were disclosed by Attorney General Anthony Brown in April, following a preliminary settlement between the state of Maryland, Synergy Marine, and the vessel’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Limited from Singapore.
The lawsuit alleged that negligence, mismanagement, and reckless operations led to the vessel being unseaworthy and unfit for departure. Plaintiffs include the families of the deceased construction workers, the cargo owners, and local governments seeking compensation for economic losses. While details of the settlement remain undisclosed, some aspects of the lawsuit are still pending resolution.
The state is pursuing damages related to the destruction of the bridge, environmental harm to the Patapsco River, loss of revenue, and economic damage to Maryland residents.
It is important to note that the attorney general’s office clarified that the settlement does not address claims against the shipbuilder Hyundai.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge had been a significant Baltimore landmark and crucial transportation route that allowed drivers to bypass downtown traffic. This steel bridge, measuring 1.6 miles, took five years to complete, opening in 1977.
