More than two years after the tragic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against the operator of the cargo ship involved in the disaster. The collapse, which happened on March 26, 2024, killed six construction workers and caused massive damage to one of Maryland’s most important bridges.
Ship Operator and Superintendent Indicted
Federal authorities announced that Synergy Marine, the Singapore- and India-based company operating the cargo ship M/V Dali, has been charged with multiple federal crimes. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, failing to report a hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard, making false statements, obstructing an investigation, and misconduct leading to deaths.
Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, a technical superintendent connected to the ship’s operations, was also indicted in the case.
During a press conference, FBI Baltimore Field Office Special Agent Jimmy Paul said the bridge collapse “should never have happened” and accused those responsible of cutting corners and ignoring safety risks.
What Caused the Bridge Collapse?
According to federal prosecutors and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the M/V Dali suffered two power outages shortly before crashing into the bridge.
Investigators say the ship was improperly using a “flushing pump” to supply diesel fuel to two generators instead of using proper fuel supply pumps that had backup systems. Prosecutors allege the flushing pump failed during the second blackout, preventing the ship from regaining power in time to avoid the collision.
Officials stated that if the correct fuel pumps had been used, the vessel likely would have safely passed under the bridge.
Prosecutors Claim Operators Knew About the Risk
Federal prosecutors allege that Synergy Marine knew about the dangerous use of the flushing pump as early as 2020. The indictment claims company employees attempted to hide the issue after the disaster by removing references to the flushing pump from engineering records, audits, and ship documents.
Authorities also accused Nair of falsely telling investigators from the NTSB that he did not know the flushing pump was being used to fuel the generators.
Investigators revealed that another vessel operated by Synergy Marine reportedly experienced a similar blackout in 2022 because of the same pump setup.
NTSB Findings and Safety Concerns
The NTSB report released in November 2025 described the use of the flushing pump as “inappropriate.” The report explained that the pump was originally designed only for maintenance purposes and lacked automatic restart systems and backup protections.
The first power outage was reportedly caused by a loose wire inside the ship’s switchboard, which shut down the engine cooling system and briefly disabled steering. Although power was restored initially, the second outage proved catastrophic.
Families and Victims Continue Seeking Justice
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge shocked the nation and left six highway construction workers dead. The rebuilding project is expected to cost billions of dollars and continue through the end of the decade.
Synergy Marine and the ship’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Limited, have already faced multiple lawsuits from the federal government, the state of Maryland, Baltimore officials, victims’ families, and cargo owners.
In 2024, the companies agreed to pay more than $100 million in a settlement with the Justice Department. They also reached a settlement with the state of Maryland last month, though other civil cases are still expected to go to trial.
Ongoing Legal Battle
Despite the criminal charges, Synergy Marine and Grace Ocean continue denying negligence. The companies argue that their financial liability should be limited to the value of the ship and its cargo.
The newly filed criminal case now marks the first major criminal prosecution connected to the deadly bridge collapse.
