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Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a Singaporean company and its superintendent for the fatal collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge two years ago.
Two years after a container ship rammed into and collapsed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Justice Department has announced criminal charges against two companies and the ship’s technical superintendent. The Justice Department indictment charges Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, based in Chennai, India, along with Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47. These entities are accused of conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately inform the Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and false statements.
The crash killed six highway workers and cut off traffic to one of the US’ largest shipping ports, officials said, adding it will cost billions to rebuild the bridge. US Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland stated at a press conference in Baltimore Tuesday that the government’s investigation found Synergy employees, including shore-side technical managers, fabricated and directed the fabrication of safety inspections and certifications related to vessel systems. Hayes confirmed that investigators believe Nair, an Indian national, is currently in India and emphasized that the government intends to use all available law enforcement tools to bring him to justice.
Following the crash, the FBI and US Coast Guard opened a criminal investigation. Several members of the crew, who were not US citizens, were told to remain in the country as the investigation continued. In December of last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its final report on the incident, which concluded that a wire label had slid over a covering, keeping that wire from establishing a proper connection with the circuit breaker. This caused power outages on the ship, the Dali, as it was leaving the port of Baltimore. Despite the crew’s failed efforts to “recover propulsion from the loss of electrical power,” the report says, the Dali careened into the bridge minutes later. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy previously noted that finding the loose wire in a ship the size of the Dali would be like finding a loose bolt in the Eiffel Tower. The NTSB report also found the bridge had significant structural risk never evaluated by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly altered the ship and relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the Dali’s four generators. The flushing pump was not designed to automatically restart following a blackout, and the Dali’s generators could not operate without a fuel supply, so the ship ultimately experienced a second blackout, the Justice Department says. The Justice Department stated that if the ship had not been relying on the flushing pump, power would have been restored, preventing the crash. The obstruction charge stems from Nair telling officials he was unaware the ship was using the flushing pump, according to the indictment. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office Jimmy Paul said the bridge was struck “because those who were responsible for the ship’s operation deliberately cut corners to the expense of safety.”
Paul elaborated on the severity of the charges, noting that the indictment shows Synergy and Nair repeatedly failed to document, investigate and report significant safety risk and hazards aboard the Dali. “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 there was question,” Paul said. This stands in stark contrast to the findings of the NTSB, which has released its own conclusions regarding the cause of the disaster.
In response to the federal announcement, Synergy issued a statement Tuesday on behalf of both companies, defending its operations. “At the conclusion of their investigation, the NTSB determined that Synergy Marine and its crew were not among the probable or contributing causes of the DALI making contact with the bridge,” Synergy said in the statement. “Instead, the NTSB identified the probable cause of the incident was a loss of electrical power due to a loose signal wire connection, a defect outside of Synergy Marine’s control.”
The company expressed deep disappointment with the US Attorney for the District of Maryland and prosecutors within the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. Synergy argued that these officials “ignored the clear and well-documented findings of the seasoned maritime professionals within the NTSB, as well as the documented findings and testimony of multiple maritime experts.” The company added that the timing of the announcement coming less than a month before the civil trial raises “serious questions” about the motivations behind the criminal charges.
While the criminal case moves forward with these new charges, legal proceedings regarding financial liability are also underway. A bench trial is set for June 1 in a separate, civil case against the ship’s owner and operator by the city of Baltimore and others as the companies look to limit their liability in the crash. The Justice Department and state of Maryland previously reached settlement agreements with the owners and operators of the Dali, establishing a baseline for the financial responsibilities involved in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Justice Department's decision to pursue criminal charges against Synergy Marine and its technical superintendent marks a significant escalation in the accountability process for the Baltimore bridge collapse. As the Dali ship charges proceed toward trial, the focus will remain on whether the alleged fabrication of safety inspections and the reliance on a faulty flushing pump constitute criminal negligence. The upcoming civil bench trial in June will further determine financial liability, potentially setting precedents for maritime safety regulations. If the prosecution succeeds, it may lead to stricter oversight of shore-side management responsibilities in global shipping, ensuring that technical shortcuts do not compromise public safety and infrastructure integrity.
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