BALTIMORE — The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday announced a federal indictment against the owners of the DALI container ship that crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse over two years ago.
Prosecutors say the DALI used unauthorized fuel flushing pumps creating hazardous conditions in violation of federal law.
This led to a pair of power outages within four minutes hampering the ship's ability to recover resulting in the collision and death of six construction workers.
"The defendants allegedly altered the ship and relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the Dali’s four generators," the DOJ said. "The flushing pump was not designed to automatically restart following a blackout, and the Dali’s generators could not operate without a fuel supply, so the ship ultimately experienced a second blackout. The indictment alleges that if the Dali used the proper fuel supply pumps, the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge."
DOJ indicts DALI ship ownership, technician over Key Bridge collapse
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Also citing the ship's loss of power 24 hours before the crash, the DOJ suggests its owners, Synergy Marine Group, intentionally withheld this information from federal inspectors.
Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, an Indian national who worked as the Technical Superintendent on the Dali, was also charged with conspiracy, for allegedly providing false statements to the U.S. Coast Guard and failing to inform them of the ship's conditions.
SEE ALSO: Could a loose cable have caused the DALI power outage leading to Key Bridge crash?
The DALI owners face additional misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Refuse Act for the discharge of pollutants into the Patapsco River, including shipping containers and their contents, oil, and the bridge itself.
Nair is believed to be in India where the feds are hoping to track him down to face charges back here in the U.S.
In response to the indictment, Synergy issued the following statement:
"First and foremost, our primary concern remains the families affected by the loss of their loved ones as a result of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. From the outset, we have dedicated ourselves to fully cooperating with the investigations to determine what occurred so that future accidents can be prevented.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its final report on December 10, 2025, following a comprehensive and exhaustive 20-month investigation, performed by a team of NTSB investigators with a combined 400 years of maritime expertise. This independent investigation by the NTSB was further supported by a variety of parties, including the DALI’s designer and builder, the State of Maryland, the DALI’s flag administration and classification society, and Synergy Marine.
At the conclusion of their investigation, the NTSB determined that Synergy Marine and its crew were not among the probable or contributing causes of the DALI making contact with the bridge. Instead, the NTSB identified the probable cause of the incident was a loss of electrical power due to a loose signal wire connection, a defect outside of Synergy Marine’s control.
We are deeply disappointed that the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland and prosecutors within the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice have ignored the clear and well-documented findings of the seasoned maritime professionals within the NTSB, as well as the documented findings and testimony of multiple maritimeexperts.
The NTSB’s findings, together with the substantial evidence Synergy Marine has produced to the government in the investigation, clearly refutes any allegations of wrongdoing by the DALI crew. Synergy Marine finds it troubling the DOJ has kept the DALI crew members in the U.S. for over two years, despite evidence that their actions were timely and reasonable under the circumstances.
The timing of the Government’s announcement, less than a month before civil trial begins, also raises serious questions.
Synergy will defend against these allegations with vigor and remains committed to pursuing all legal avenues to ensure those truly responsible for the allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge are held to account.
In the meantime, Synergy will continue to care for and support its seafarers worldwide – including those who have been kept in the U.S. for over two years — and looks forward to presenting its full defense in court."
Synergy as a company, faces a maximum sentence of five years probation for each felony count, and a fine of up to twice the amount of losses caused by the crash.
Nair, meanwhile, could spend decades behind bars if convicted.
The DOJ's civil division previously agreed to a $100 million out-of-court settlement over the crash, however prosecutors emphasized that and the criminal case are separate. As is another settlement with Maryland, which was also finalized Tuesday.
Rebuilding of the Key Bridge is underway. The Department of Transportation recently canceled a contract for phase two due to rising costs.
Reconstruction costs were initially estimated at $1.9 billion with a 2028 completion date.
The price tag now sits between $4.3 and $5.2 billion, with 2030 being the anticipated reopening date.
