The US Justice Department on May 12 indicted Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, Chennai-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair over the March 2024 collision of the cargo ship Dali with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The crash killed six construction workers and brought down a span of the bridge. Prosecutors said the case centers on the Dali’s loss of power twice in 4 minutes as it was leaving the Port of Baltimore before it struck the bridge. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy, failure to promptly inform the US Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding and false statements. The companies were also charged with misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act and Refuse Act over pollutant discharges into the Patapsco River. [1, 2, 5, 6]
The National Transportation Safety Board found that a single loose wire in the electrical system caused a breaker to open unexpectedly, leading to two vessel blackouts and a loss of propulsion and steering. The Justice Department said the collision caused billions of dollars in damage and significant environmental harm. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Prosecutors said Nair, 47, is believed to be in India. The Dali, a 984-foot ship in one filing and 300 meters in others, had already been linked by investigators to the bridge collapse that killed the six workers on March 26, 2024. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
