Singapore, India firms charged over Maryland bridge collapse

A Singapore based company and an Indian company have been charged in connection with the 2024 Maryland bridge collapse in the United States that killed six workers.

The companies, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd based in Singapore and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd based in Chennai, were accused of conspiracy, fraud, and giving false information to investigators. An Indian national, Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, was also named in the charges, as per reports.

The accident happened on March 26, 2024, when the cargo ship named ‘M/V Dali’ lost power and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River, killing six construction workers and blocking the Baltimore shipping channel.

As per reports, the National Transportation Safety Board, ship lost electrical power because of a loose wire connection in a high voltage switchboard. This caused the vessel to lose steering and propulsion before hitting the bridge. US officials said the companies ignored maritime safety rules and created false safety inspection reports. Investigators also claimed that fake certificates were later given to the NTSB during the investigation.

The US Justice Department had earlier reached a US $100 million settlement with Synergy Marine and another company, Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, for cleanup and recovery costs after the disaster.

The six workers who died in the accident were all immigrants from Latin America and were repairing potholes on the bridge at the time of the crash. 

Maryland authorities estimate that rebuilding the bridge will cost more than US $5.2 billion, and the project is expected to be completed by 2030.