In March 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was hit by a cargo ship that severely damaged the bridge and killed road workers
My colleague Mary Chastain reported last month that reconstruction plans hit a major snag when Maryland officials “canceled a key construction contract.”
Now the Justice Department has unsealed criminal charges against two companies and the ship’s technical superintendent.
The crash killed six highway workers and cut off traffic to one of the US’ largest shipping ports, officials said, adding it will cost billions to rebuild the bridge.Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, based in Chennai, India, along with Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, who worked for both companies as the technical superintendent for the “Dali,” are charged with conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately inform the Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and false statements.“The government’s investigation also found that Synergy employees, including its shore side technical managers, fabricated and directed the fabrication of safety inspections and certifications related to vessel systems,” US Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland said at a press conference in Baltimore Tuesday. She said investigators believe Nair, who is an Indian national, is in India.
An investigation indicated that the disaster was triggered by a loose wire, allegedly caused by the ship’s operators cutting corners on safety.
The Dali, bound for Sri Lanka, lost power twice in a four-minute span as it moved to sea from the Port of Baltimore, causing it to crash into the Key Bridge in the early hours of March 26, 2024. Investigators say a loose wire in a switchboard likely caused the first power loss that led to its steering failure.After regaining power, the ship found itself in trouble again. The Dali turned to a certain pump to supply fuel to two generators but the pump was not designed to automatically restart after the first blackout, so a second blackout occurred, the indictment says.If the Dali had used the proper fuel pumps, according to the indictment, the vessel would have regained power in time to safely get under the bridge. Instead, it crashed into a supporting column of the bridge, killing six construction workers who had been filling potholes.“As alleged, the bridge was struck and collapsed because those who were responsible for the ship’s operation deliberately cut corners at the expense of safety,” said Jimmy Paul, head of the FBI’s Baltimore office.
The proposed penalties for the firms and the technical superintendent are severe.
The state sought damages for the destruction of the bridge, environmental harm to the Patapsco River, lost revenue and broader economic impacts.The settlement does not resolve any claims Maryland has against the shipbuilder, Hyundai, according to the attorney general’s office.If convicted, Synergy faces up to five years of probation for each felony count and a fine of up to twice the gross gain or loss tied to the allision.Nair faces a maximum of five years in federal prison for conspiracy; six years for each Ports and Waterways Safety Act violation; 10 years for each count of misconduct or neglect of ship officers; and five years for each obstruction and false statement count.
Six construction workers filling potholes on a bridge in the early hours of a Tuesday morning never made it home because it appears that safety was shortchanged to save a few dollars.
With Maryland’s rebuild already mired in contract cancellations and billions in costs still ahead, the people of Baltimore and every American who relies on the nation’s ports and bridges deserve to see these charges pursued to the fullest extent of the law if proven in court.
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