OAN Staff Lillian Mann
10:28 AM – Wednesday, May 13, 2026
More than two years after the devastating collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, federal authorities have unsealed a criminal indictment against those purportedly responsible for the disaster.
The charges target two corporate entities — Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd and India-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd — alongside Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, an Indian national who served as the vessel’s technical superintendent.
The legal action stems from the events of March 26, 2024, when the container ship Dali suffered a critical loss of power and struck a primary support column of the bridge.
The resulting structural failure caused the span to plummet into the Patapsco River, tragically claiming the lives of six construction workers who were performing road repairs on the bridge at the time of the impact.
The indictment alleges that both corporate entities and Nair conspired to defraud the United States by intentionally withholding information from the U.S. Coast Guard regarding a known hazardous condition aboard the vessel.
Beyond this failure to report, the defendants are charged with obstructing a federal agency investigation and providing false statements to authorities. According to prosecutors, the Dali experienced two separate power outages prior to the collision, even though the ship was designed to automatically restore electrical power following a blackout.
The government argues further that the operators had bypassed the standard supply pumps in favor of a flushing pump to transfer fuel. Unlike the ship’s primary systems, this flushing pump reportedly lacked an automatic restart capability and required a crew member to manually reset a switch to restore fuel flow after a failure.
“After that first blackout, the ship’s two running generators became starved of fuel, causing a second blackout,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly Hayes said. “The indictment alleges that if the Dali had been using the proper fuel supply pumps, then the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge.”
“The utilization of the flushing pumps is considered a violation of international law, with authorities alleging the company operators – including Nair – knew about the improper use of the flushing pump and the risks that it presented,” Hayes added.
“Nair and others took steps to hide the use of the flushing pump on the Dali both before and after the crash,” she continued. “The indictment further alleges that after the crash, Nair falsely told the National Transportation Safety Board that he was unaware that the Dali was using the flushing pump.”
Although the technical superintendent currently resides in India, U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, noting the efforts of law enforcement, confirmed that federal authorities are actively working to ensure his return to the United States to face these criminal charges.
The gravity of the case was also highlighted by Jimmy Paul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, who reported that Nair and the ship’s operators systematically disregarded critical safety protocols before the vessel ever left port.
Specifically, the investigation revealed that the defendants failed to document or investigate multiple known hazards aboard the Dali, a negligence that prosecutors suggest set the stage for the eventual disaster.
“They forged safety inspections and certifications. They falsely claimed the ship was in good working order, and then lied to investigators about their actions when they were questioned,” Paul stated.
The catastrophic collision has resulted in staggering financial consequences, with total losses now exceeding $5 billion. Maryland officials currently estimate that the reconstruction of a replacement bridge will require an investment of between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with a projected completion date in 2030.
In addition to the primary criminal charges, both corporate entities face multiple misdemeanor counts for violating environmental policies by discharging pollutants into the Patapsco River. While the Dali was transporting approximately 760 tons of hazardous materials at the time of the crash, authorities clarified that while not all of the cargo was released, large quantities of oil and other chemicals did contaminate the waterway.
In response to the indictment, Synergy Marine Group condemned the charges, maintaining that the power failure and subsequent crash were inevitable due to a loose wire.
“DOJ is criminalizing a tragic accident. The allegations in the indictment are baseless and have nothing to do with the Dali’s allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” a Synergy Marine Group spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“[The] DOJ’s allegations are inconsistent with the clear and well-documented findings of the specialist maritime professionals involved in the NTSB investigation,” the spokesperson added.
The development comes a month after Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, the ship’s registered owner, and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, the technical manager, reached a preliminary settlement with the State of Maryland over damages linked to the bridge collapse, including port disruptions and environmental harm, according to The Associated Press.
“The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster.”
An ongoing civil case is expected to go to trial on June 1st in a U.S. district court.
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