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Charges filed against ship operator two years after fatal bridge collapse
Federal prosecutors have charged Synergy Marine, the operator of the container ship Dali, with conspiracy, obstruction, and misconduct resulting in death following the vessel's collision with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024. The incident killed six construction workers and caused extensive economic disruption.
Allegations of deception and safety failures
Prosecutors accuse Synergy Marine of misleading investigators about conditions aboard the Dali and concealing hazards from the U.S. Coast Guard. The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, targets the company's operations in Singapore and India, as well as Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, the ship's technical supervisor.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the bridge collapse as "a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence," stating that the charges reflect "reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations."
Power failures cited as cause of collision
The Dali lost power twice within four minutes before striking the bridge, according to prosecutors. The first outage stemmed from a loose wire in a switchboard, while the second occurred when the crew used an unapproved flushing pump to supply fuel to the ship's generators. The pump, not designed to restart automatically after a blackout, failed to restore power in time to avoid the collision.
Prosecutors argue that proper fuel supply systems would have prevented the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) previously identified multiple contributing factors, including electrical failures, fuel pump issues, and inadequate bridge protections.
Company denies wrongdoing, settles civil claims
Synergy Marine denied the allegations in a statement to the BBC, calling the charges "baseless" and unrelated to the collision. The company asserted that the incident was a "tragic accident" and vowed to "defend against these allegations with vigor."
"DOJ is criminalising a tragic accident. The allegations in the indictment are baseless and have nothing to do with the Dali's allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge."
Synergy Marine statement
Separately, the company settled a civil lawsuit with Maryland for $2.25 billion, resolving claims for bridge reconstruction, environmental damage, lost toll revenue, and other economic losses. The vessel's owner had previously paid over $100 million to the U.S. Department of Justice and $350 million to Maryland's insurer for damages.
Ongoing reconstruction and broader implications
Baltimore continues to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a project expected to span years and cost billions. The collapse halted shipping operations, disrupting regional trade and infrastructure.
The indictment also alleges that Synergy Marine falsified safety records and concealed the improper use of the flushing pump on the Dali and other vessels. Prosecutors claim employees knew of the violations but took steps to hide them.
