Criminal Indictment Unsealed After Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse
Over two years after the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, federal officials have released a criminal indictment against those believed to be accountable for the incident.
Named in the charges are two corporate companies—Synergy Marine Pte Ltd based in Singapore and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd from India—along with Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, an Indian national who was the technical superintendent of the vessel.
This legal action is tied to the events of March 26, 2024, when the cargo ship Dali lost power and collided with a key support column of the bridge. The structural failure led to a catastrophic drop into the Patapsco River, resulting in the loss of six construction workers who were performing road repairs at the time of the incident.
The indictment claims that both companies and Nair conspired to deceive the U.S. Coast Guard by failing to disclose a hazardous situation aboard the ship. Furthermore, they are accused of obstructing a federal investigation and providing false information to authorities. Prosecutors assert that the Dali experienced two power failures prior to the crash, despite being designed to automatically restore power following such outages.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that the operators opted to use flushing pumps for fuel transfer, which didn’t have automatic restart functions and required manual reset. This decision is outlined as a significant deviation from standard operating procedures.
“After that first blackout, the ship’s two running generators became starved of fuel, causing a second blackout,” stated U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly Hayes. “The indictment asserts that if the Dali had employed the correct fuel supply pumps, the vessel would have regained power in time to navigate safely under the Key Bridge.”
“The use of the flushing pumps violates international law, and the operators, including Nair, were aware of the associated risks,” Hayes noted.
“Nair and others attempted to conceal the flushing pump’s usage both before and after the crash, and he falsely informed the National Transportation Safety Board that he had no knowledge of it being used.”
Nair, currently in India, is being sought by U.S. authorities to face these charges. The gravity of the situation was underscored by Jimmy Paul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. He indicated that Nair and the ship operators largely ignored vital safety protocols long before the incident occurred.
The investigation found that they failed to document or address multiple hazards on the Dali, which prosecutors argue contributed to the disaster.
“They forged safety inspections and certifications, falsely claiming the ship was in good working condition, and lied to investigators when questioned,” Paul mentioned.
The fallout from this collision has led to immense financial repercussions, with total losses exceeding $5 billion. Maryland officials estimate that rebuilding a replacement bridge will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with completion projected for 2030.
Alongside the main criminal charges, both companies are facing misdemeanor counts for breaching environmental regulations by releasing pollutants into the Patapsco River. While the Dali was carrying around 760 tons of hazardous materials at the time of the crash, not all cargo was released. However, significant amounts of oil and chemicals did contaminate the waters.
In response to the indictment, Synergy Marine Group has rejected the charges, claiming the crash was due to an unavoidable power failure linked to a loose wire.
“The DOJ is criminalizing a tragic accident. The allegations in the indictment are baseless and unrelated to the Dali’s incident with the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” a spokesperson for Synergy Marine Group stated.
“The DOJ’s claims contradict the findings of specialists involved in the NTSB investigation,” they added.
This development is reported shortly after Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, the registered owner of the ship, and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd reached a preliminary settlement with Maryland concerning damages related to the bridge collapse, including environmental consequences.
“The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge represents a preventable tragedy with vast implications,” remarked Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This indictment is a vital step toward holding responsible those who recklessly disregarded maritime safety regulations, leading to this catastrophe.”
A civil case is expected to go to trial on June 1 in a U.S. district court.
