Chief Engineer Charged in Baltimore Bridge Collapse Case as US Probe Widens

US federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Karthikeyan Deenadayalan, the chief engineer aboard the container ship Dali, alleging that he failed to report hazardous conditions that contributed to the catastrophic collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024.

Deenadayalan, 46, has been charged with violating the Port and Waterways Safety Act after prosecutors alleged he knowingly failed to notify the US Coast Guard that an improper fuel pump lacking redundancy was being used to power two of the ship's generators. Investigators say the arrangement created a critical vulnerability that played a role in the vessel's loss of power before the collision.

Court filings show that federal authorities and Deenadayalan have entered into a deferred prosecution agreement , a move that could ultimately allow the charge to be dismissed if he complies with undisclosed conditions. Legal experts say such agreements often involve cooperation with investigators or testimony in related cases.

The Dali lost power twice shortly after departing Baltimore on March 26, 2024. Investigators determined that a loose electrical wire likely triggered the first blackout, while the second occurred because the generators relied on the non-redundant fuel pump, leaving the vessel unable to regain steering and propulsion before striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge . The collapse killed six construction workers and temporarily shut down one of America's busiest ports.

The charge marks the first criminal case against a crew member who was aboard the vessel during the disaster. Several crew members, including Deenadayalan, have remained in the United States since the collapse as investigations continued.

The case follows a May indictment against Synergy Marine Group and former technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, who are accused of concealing equipment defects, falsifying records and misleading investigators. Their trial is scheduled for October 2027. Prosecutors contend the tragedy could have been prevented through proper maintenance and disclosure of the ship's generator systems. A USD 2.25 billion civil settlement has already been reached with Maryland, while remaining litigation focuses largely on economic losses stemming from the collapse.