Dali ship operator charged over deadly Baltimore bridge collapse

Dali ship operator charged over deadly Baltimore bridge collapse13 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleMadeline HalpertGetty ImagesFederal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against the owner of the cargo ship Dali, two years after the vessel struck Baltimore's Key Bridge, causing its collapse and killing six people. Synergy Marine, the company that operated the ship, along with one of its employees, has been charged with conspiracy, obstruction and misconduct resulting in death, among other offences.Prosecutors allege the company misled investigators about conditions on the ship and failed to disclose hazards and other safety concerns to the US Coast Guard. A spokesperson for Synergy said the company "will defend against these allegations with vigor", the New York Times reported.The BBC has contacted Synergy for comment. In a statement on Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the collapse of the bridge was "a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence"."This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster," he said. The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, involves the company's Singapore- and India-based operations. The Dali's technical supervisor, Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, also faces criminal charges. In the early hours of 26 March, the M/V Dali container ship crashed into the landmark Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending several vehicles on the bridge plunging into the river and killing six construction workers. The bridge collapse also caused significant economic disruption as shipping was brought to a standstill. The city is still working to reconstruct the bridge, which is expected to take years and cost billions of dollars. The National Transportation Safety Board has identified multiple factors, including the loss of electrical power from a faulty cable, problems with a fuel pump on the ship and a...