Federal Officials File Criminal Charges In Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

The indictment alleges if the ship had been using proper fuel supply pumps, it would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the bridge.

Federal officials announced that criminal charges have been filed in the collision that downed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The indictment names Synergy Marine, a private limited company out of Singapore, and Synergy Maritime, a private company in India. It also names a technical superintendent and an Indian national as defendants in the case.

Both companies are charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., willfully failing to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding and false statements.

Federal officials allege the company improperly “altered” flushing pumps on the container ship to supply fuel to two of the ship’s generators, resulting in a blackout. The indictment alleges if the ship had been using proper fuel supply pumps, it would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the bridge.