The U.S. Department of Justice has brought 18 criminal charges against the operators and technical supervisor of the container ship “Dali”, which caused the collapse of a bridge in Baltimore in March 2024.
The charges target Singapore-based Synergy Marine and India-based Synergy Maritime, and include conspiracy, failure to report the incident to the Coast Guard, obstruction of justice, and providing false statements.
According to investigative materials, the main cause of the accident was unauthorized technical modifications made onboard the vessel. It is reported that the crew used a wash pump not designed for fuel supply to power the generators.
After an initial power outage, the system failed to restart automatically, leading to a second blackout, after which the vessel lost full control and collided with the bridge.
The U.S. Department of Justice argues that the accident could have been prevented if proper fuel pumps had been used.
The indictment also includes allegations of cost-cutting practices that compromised safety procedures and caused environmental damage.
The incident resulted in the deaths of six road workers and approximately $5 billion in economic losses. The new charges, filed ahead of a civil trial scheduled for June 1, are expected to significantly impact attempts by ship owners to limit liability.
