Criminal Charges Filed Against Dali Ship Operator
Federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against Synergy Marine, the operator of the cargo ship Dali, two years after the vessel collided with Baltimore's Key Bridge. The incident caused the bridge's collapse and resulted in the deaths of six individuals.
Synergy Marine and one of its employees have been charged with conspiracy, obstruction, misconduct resulting in death, among other offenses.
Authorities allege that the company misled investigators regarding the ship's conditions and failed to disclose hazards and safety concerns to the US Coast Guard.
A spokesperson for Synergy Marine stated the company
"will defend against these allegations with vigor", according to the New York Times. The BBC has reached out to Synergy for comment.
Official Statements and Indictment Details
On Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the bridge collapse as
"a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence". He added,
"This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster."
The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, involves Synergy Marine's operations based in Singapore and India. Additionally, the Dali's technical supervisor, Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, faces criminal charges.
Incident Overview
In the early hours of 26 March, the M/V Dali container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a landmark structure in Baltimore. The collision caused several vehicles on the bridge to fall into the river, resulting in six construction worker fatalities.
The collapse also led to significant economic disruption, halting shipping activities in the area.
The city continues efforts to reconstruct the bridge, a project expected to take several years and cost billions of dollars.
Investigation Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board identified multiple contributing factors to the accident, including the loss of electrical power due to a faulty cable, issues with a fuel pump aboard the ship, and insufficient countermeasures to reduce the bridge's vulnerability.
According to court filings, prosecutors state that the Dali lost power twice within a four-minute period before striking the bridge.
The first power outage was attributed to a loose wire in a switchboard. Prosecutors allege the second blackout occurred because the crew relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the ship's generators.
Prosecutors further contend that the vessel was not authorized to use the flushing pump for its generators, as it was not designed to automatically restart after a blackout.
They added that if the crew had used the
"proper" fuel supply, the vessel would have regained power before hitting the bridge.
The indictment also states that Synergy employees were aware of the improper use of the flushing pump and
"took steps to hide the use"of this equipment on the Dali and other vessels.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that the company falsified safety records.
Civil Settlement
In a separate civil case, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced on Tuesday that the state reached a $2.25 billion (£1.66 billion) settlement with Synergy Marine concerning the bridge collapse.
This settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the state in 2024 seeking damages related to the bridge's destruction, environmental harm, lost toll revenues, and other economic losses affecting Maryland and its residents.
Synergy Marine has already paid over $100 million to the Justice Department to settle a civil claim for damages to the bridge, as well as $350 million to Maryland's state insurance company.
