Singapore-based Synergy Marine and Chennai, India's Synergy Maritime face multiple criminal charges for their alleged role in a ship collision that led to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
A Singapore-based company and another in India have been indicted on multiple criminal charges over a 2024 ship crash that destroyed a bridge in the US state of Maryland, resulting in six deaths. The indictment was unsealed by officials on Tuesday. Synergy Marine, based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime, located in Chennai, India, are accused of conspiracy to defraud, making false statements to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and other charges.
An Indian national, Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, who worked for both companies as technical superintendent for the ship, the M/V Dali, is also named in the indictment. US Attorney Kelly Hayes stated that Nair is not in custody and believed to be in India. The M/V Dali, a 984-foot container ship, suffered a series of electrical problems on March 26, 2024, leading it to crash into the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River, causing the bridge to collapse like a house of cards.
The NTSB found that the probable cause of the disaster was a loss of electrical power due to a loose wire connection in a high-voltage switchboard, resulting in the vessel losing propulsion and steering as it approached the bridge. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized, "This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster."
FBI special agent Jimmy Paul added, "The indictment reveals a pattern of deception and egregious violations that led to the unsafe operation of the Dali which recklessly endangered the public and resulted in the ship striking the bridge." The US Justice Department announced an October 2024 $100 million settlement with Singapore's Synergy Marine and another company, Grace Ocean, aimed at recovering costs related to responding to the disaster and removing tons of debris from the port of Baltimore.
Maryland authorities have estimated that rebuilding the bridge will cost more than $5.2 billion, with completion anticipated in 2030. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was described as a preventable tragedy by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, underscoring the severity and consequences of the alleged misconduct by Synergy Marine and Synergy Maritime.
