Federal prosecutors in the United States have filed criminal charges against Singapore-based shipmanager Synergy Marine in connection with the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, nearly two years after the containership Dali crashed into the structure and caused the deaths of six construction workers.
The indictment, announced on Tuesday, targets Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, the vessel’s 47-year-old technical superintendent. Nair faces multiple charges, including conspiracy, obstruction and misconduct resulting in death.
Acting attorney general Todd Blanche described the bridge collapse as “a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence.”
According to prosecutors, the crew aboard the Dali was aware of critical system deficiencies before the vessel departed the port of Baltimore on the night of March 24, 2024. Authorities claim Synergy failed to properly report or investigate two electrical blackouts that occurred while the ship was still in port the day before the disaster.
As the vessel departed, it reportedly suffered two separate power losses within a four-minute period, leaving the ship without steering capability before it collided with one of the bridge’s support columns at around 1:30am. At the time of the incident, six construction workers carrying out pothole repairs on the bridge lost their lives.
The indictment further alleges that following the first blackout, the vessel relied on a fuel pump system not designed to automatically restart after a power failure, ultimately triggering the second blackout.
Prosecutors argued that “if the Dali had used the proper fuel pumps, the vessel would have regained power in time to safely get under the bridge.”
The companies and Nair are now facing charges related to conspiracy, intentionally failing to notify the US Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstructing an investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, and making false statements to authorities.
In addition, the Synergy entities face misdemeanour charges linked to pollution released into the Patapsco River, including shipping containers and cargo contents that entered the water following the collapse.
Synergy Marine strongly rejected the accusations.
“We are surprised and disappointed by the announcement that the US Department of Justice is pursuing criminal charges against Synergy. 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,” the company stated.
Synergy also pointed to the findings of the NTSB’s 20-month investigation, arguing that the blackout was ultimately caused by a latent manufacturing defect involving a loose wire within the ship’s electrical system. According to the company, the issue occurred while the vessel was approximately three ship lengths from the bridge and travelling at 8.5 knots.
“Both the NTSB and well-respected maritime experts have conclusively determined that the accident was inevitable due to the loose wire, which was in no way attributable to Synergy’s operation of the vessel,” the company added, while also highlighting the Dali’s strong Port State Control record in the United States.
Synergy stated it intends to contest the charges in court and remains confident the Department of Justice will fail to meet the required burden of proof during trial proceedings.
The criminal case follows a $2.25bn civil settlement reached in April involving the state of Maryland, Synergy Marine and shipowner Grace Ocean. However, some elements of the broader legal dispute remain unresolved, including claims involving shipbuilder HD Hyundai.
Maryland authorities estimate that replacing the 2.6-kilometre steel bridge, originally opened in 1977, will cost between $4.3bn and $5.2bn, with project completion currently expected no earlier than the end of 2030.
