Ship operator and employee charged over deadly collapse of Baltimore bridge

The operator of a cargo ship that crashed into a bridge in the US, killing six people, has been charged over the incident, along with one of the firm's key employees.

Synergy Marine, based in Singapore, and Chennai-based Synergy Maritime, are accused of conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately inform the US Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction and making false statements.

The 300m (984-feet) MV Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge around 1.30am in March 2024, causing it to collapse and killing six builders who were repairing potholes overnight and who were unable to escape in time.

Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, the ship's technical superintendent, was charged with the same offences in what US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described as "a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence".

A single loose wire led to the vessel losing power, US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators said last year. It found that the unconnected electric cable meant the Dali experienced a loss of propulsion and steering less than a mile from the Baltimore bridge.

The Dali, built in 2015 and with a gross tonnage of more than 91,000, was leaving Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka when it crashed into a supporting column of the bridge on 26 March.

It blocked the mouth of one of the busiest ports in the US for almost three months, costing billions of dollars in ‌damage and significant environmental damage, the US Justice Department said.

State officials estimated the cost of repairs at between $4.3bn and $5.2bn (£3.2bn-£4.1bn), but the Maryland Attorney General's Office put it higher, as it stopped shipping at the city's port, disrupted the livelihoods of thousands, rerouted road traffic and damaged the state's economy.

The bridge is not expected to be open to traffic until late 2030.

Investigators found that an improperly placed label on the wire prevented it from being fully inserted, causing an inadequate connection.

An FBI inquiry focused on the vessel's operations and whether the crew knew of critical systems issues before leaving port.

Last month, the state settled in principle with Synergy Marine and Grace Ocean Private Ltd, after accusing the companies of negligence, mismanagement and recklessly operating a vessel that was not seaworthy and should never have left port.

Read more:
How the crash happened
Ship owner agrees payout
Crash ship leaves three months later

Families of the six workers who died were among the plaintiffs in the case, along with owners of cargo on board and local authorities seeking damages for economic losses.

The 1.6-mile (2.6-km) Baltimore landmark took five years to build and opened to traffic in 1977, allowing drivers to easily bypass downtown.

(c) Sky News 2026: Ship operator and employee charged over deadly collapse of Baltimore bridge