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Baltimore — The U.S. Justice Department said on May 12 that a grand jury indicted Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, Chennai-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair in the March 26, 2024 collision of the 984-foot cargo ship Dali that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The crash killed six construction workers and caused billions of dollars in damage and significant environmental harm to the Patapsco River. Nair, 47, an Indian national who served as the Dali's technical superintendent and worked for both companies, and the two Synergy corporations face counts including conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately notify the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding and false statements. The corporations also are charged with misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act and the Refuse Act for discharging pollutants, including shipping containers and their contents, oil and the bridge itself, into the Patapsco River. The National Transportation Safety Board found a single loose wire in the ship’s electrical system triggered a breaker opening that led to two onboard blackouts and a loss of propulsion and steering.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.