Ship Operator And Technical Superintendent Indicted In 2024 Baltimore Key Bridge Collapse
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Justice Department unsealed criminal charges against the operator of the containership Dali and its technical superintendent in connection with the deadly 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge.[1]
Federal prosecutors named Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., Chennai-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., and Dali technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, in the indictment.[2] The filing accuses the companies and Nair of conspiracy, willful failure to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of a National Transportation Safety Board probe, and making false statements.[2] The Synergy firms also face misdemeanors for releasing pollutants, including shipping containers and contents, into the Patapsco River.[2] Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called the collapse "a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence" and said the indictment aims to hold accountable those whose "reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations" caused the disaster.[1]
Prosecutors say the Dali lost power twice in a four-minute span after departing the Port of Baltimore.[2] They allege a loose wire in a switchboard first cut steering, and then use of a fuel pump that was not designed to automatically restart caused a second blackout that sent the ship into a bridge support column around 1:30 a.m. on March 24, 2024.[2] Prosecutors say proper fuel pumps would have let the vessel regain power in time to pass safely under the bridge.[2] Investigators also allege the ship suffered two power blackouts in port the day before departure that Synergy did not investigate or report as required.[2]
Maryland officials estimate replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with a projected reopening to traffic in late 2030.[2] CBS aired a Justice Department-focused update on the criminal announcement at 1:41 p.m. Central on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.[3]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Justice Department publicly announced criminal charges against the operator of the containership Dali over the March 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.
- Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, charging Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., Chennai-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., and Dali technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47.
- The indictment alleges the Dali lost power twice in a four-minute span after departing the Port of Baltimore — first from a loose wire in a switchboard that cut steering, then from use of a fuel pump not designed to automatically restart, causing a second blackout and a strike on a bridge support column around 1:30 a.m. on March 24, 2024; prosecutors say proper fuel pumps would have let the vessel regain power in time to pass safely under the bridge instead of striking the column (the Dali).
- The indictment charges include conspiracy; willful failure to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition; obstruction of the NTSB investigation; making false statements; and, for the Synergy firms, additional misdemeanors for releasing pollutants and shipping containers into the Patapsco River.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called the Key Bridge collapse “a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence” and said the indictment is intended to hold accountable those whose “reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations” caused the disaster.
- Investigators allege the ship suffered two power blackouts in port the day before its March 24, 2024 departure that Synergy did not investigate or report as required, and that the company provided false information to NTSB investigators.
- Maryland officials estimate replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with a projected reopening to traffic in late 2030.
- CBS aired a Justice Department–focused update at 1:41 p.m. Central on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, delivered on-camera by CBS correspondent Shanelle Kaul emphasizing the DOJ announcement of criminal charges.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS aired a DOJ-focused segment at 1:41 p.m. Central on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, emphasizing the Justice Department's announcement of criminal charges against the Francis Scott Key Bridge ship operator.
- The segment reiterates that the charges stem from the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, which killed six people.
- The clip is presented as an on-camera update by CBS correspondent Shanelle Kaul, underscoring DOJ's role as the announcing authority.
- On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., Chennai-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., and Dali technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, over the March 24, 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
- The indictment alleges the Dali lost power twice in a four-minute span after departing the Port of Baltimore, first due to a loose wire in a switchboard that cut steering, then due to use of a fuel pump that was not designed to automatically restart, causing a second blackout.
- Prosecutors say that if the Dali had used the proper fuel pumps, the vessel would have regained power in time to pass safely under the bridge instead of striking a support column around 1:30 a.m. on March 24, 2024.
- The companies and Nair are charged with conspiracy, willful failure to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, and making false statements, and the Synergy firms face additional misdemeanors for releasing pollutants, including shipping containers and contents, into the Patapsco River.
- Investigators allege the ship suffered two power blackouts in port the day before departure that Synergy did not investigate or report as required, and that the company provided false information to NTSB investigators.
- Maryland officials estimate replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with a projected reopening to traffic in late 2030.
- On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Justice Department publicly announced criminal charges against the operator of the containership Dali over the March 26, 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called the bridge collapse "a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence" and said the indictment is intended to hold accountable those whose "reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations" caused the disaster.
- The Wall Street Journal piece reiterates that DOJ alleges the operator committed safety violations that resulted in the deaths of six construction workers on the bridge.