Two companies, one Indian and another from Singapore, along with an Indian engineer, have been charged by the United States Department of Justice with conspiring to defraud the US and causing the death of six construction workers in a tragic bridge collapse in March 2024. The incident occurred on March 26, 2024, when the 900-foot container vessel Dali, registered in Singapore, crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Key Figures Charged
The 47-year-old Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, who worked as the technical superintendent for the Dali, is among those charged. Nair was employed by both Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, based in Chennai, India. The US authorities have charged the three entities with conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately inform the US Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and false statements.
Environmental and Safety Violations
Additionally, the two companies face misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Refuse Act for discharging pollutants into the Patapsco River. These pollutants included shipping containers and their contents, oil, and debris from the bridge itself, according to the Department of Justice.
A Preventable Tragedy
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence. Six construction workers lost their lives, critical infrastructure was destroyed, pollutants were released into the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay, and the economic damage now exceeds five billion dollars. He emphasized the Department's commitment to securing justice for the victims and ensuring those responsible are held to account.
How the Crash Occurred
According to the indictment, the Dali lost power twice in four minutes as it navigated out to sea from the Port of Baltimore, causing it to crash into the Key Bridge. A loose wire in a high-voltage switchboard likely caused the first power loss. Critical systems on the Dali were originally designed with reliable redundancies and automatic restart capabilities, so the vessel could quickly regain power after a blackout. However, shortly after the ship regained power, it lost power again.
The indictment alleges that the accused altered the ship and relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the Dali’s four generators. The flushing pump was not designed to automatically restart following a blackout, and the Dali’s generators could not operate without a fuel supply, leading to a second blackout. If the Dali had used the proper fuel supply pumps, the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge, the indictment claimed.
This case highlights the critical importance of maritime safety protocols and the severe consequences of negligence. The legal proceedings will seek to hold all responsible parties accountable for the loss of life and extensive damage.
