Baltimore Key Bridge collapse charges name Synergy Marine firms and Dali technical superintendent

US federal prosecutors announced criminal charges on Tuesday over the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The case targets a Singapore-based ship operator and a key employee. Authorities said decisions linked to the Dali container ship led to the disaster. Six construction workers died while filling potholes on the bridge.

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The indictment names Synergy Marine Pte Ltd in Singapore and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd in Chennai, India. Prosecutors also charged Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, an Indian national. Nair worked as technical superintendent for the Dali. The crash happened on March 26, 2024, during a departure from Baltimore.

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse charges and allegations

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said, "The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,\". The companies and Nair face conspiracy charges. They are also accused of willfully failing to immediately inform the US Coast Guard. Other counts include obstruction of an agency proceeding and false statements.

Investigators said the Dali struck a supporting column at about 1:30 am. The ship had been leaving Baltimore and was bound for Sri Lanka. Officials said the steering failed after a power loss. The impact caused the bridge to collapse into the water, killing six workers on the span.

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse investigation findings

An FBI investigation reviewed vessel operations and crew knowledge before the ship left port. Investigators looked for any awareness of serious system problems. The National Transportation Safety Board said two electrical blackouts disabled key controls. One blackout involved a loose wire aboard the Dali. Another blackout involved problems with a fuel pump.

Maryland officials estimated replacement costs between USD 4.3 billion and USD 5.2 billion. The bridge is expected to reopen to traffic in late 2030. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office said wider impacts were even larger. The collapse halted Port of Baltimore shipping and disrupted thousands of livelihoods.

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse lawsuit and settlement

The indictment followed a settlement in principle announced in April by Attorney General Anthony Brown. The agreement involved the State of Maryland, Synergy Marine and Grace Ocean Private Limited. Grace Ocean Private Limited is the Singapore-based ship owner. The settlement terms were not disclosed, and parts of the lawsuit remained unresolved.

That lawsuit alleged negligence, mismanagement and reckless operation of a vessel. It said the ship was not seaworthy and should not have left port. Plaintiffs included the families of the six workers who died. Plaintiffs also included cargo owners and local governments seeking damages for economic losses.

The state sought damages for the bridge’s destruction and environmental harm in the Patapsco River. Maryland also sought compensation for lost revenues and wider economic losses. The attorney general’s office said the settlement did not resolve claims against Hyundai. The office said those shipbuilder-related claims remained separate.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a major Baltimore landmark and transport link. It helped drivers bypass downtown and eased road movement. The original steel span measured 1.6 miles, or 2.6 kilometres. It took five years to build and opened to traffic in 1977.

With inputs from PTI