Dali Chief Engineer Admits Guilt in Key Bridge Case
The chief engineer of the containership Dali has admitted to conduct constituting a criminal violation of US maritime safety laws in connection with the vessel’s allision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last year.
Deferred Prosecution Agreement
Karthikeyan Deenadayalan, an Indian national who served as chief engineer aboard the Dali, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with US authorities under which he admitted failing to report a hazardous condition to the US Coast Guard, a violation of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act.
The agreement follows the unsealing last month of a criminal indictment against three defendants linked to the March 2024 disaster, which killed six construction workers and caused the collapse of the Key Bridge.
Unsafe Fuel Supply Arrangement
According to court documents, Deenadayalan admitted he was aware that the Dali and sister vessels Maersk Saltoro and Cezanne were operating with an unsafe fuel supply arrangement involving a flushing pump.
Prosecutors said the pump lacked redundancy, compromising the vessels’ ability to safely recover from a loss of power.
- Deenadayalan admitted he understood that such a failure could affect not only the safety of the vessel but also “any bridge, structure, or shore area”
- He failed to report the condition to the Coast Guard
Broader Federal Investigation
The case forms part of a broader federal investigation into the causes of the Dali blackout that preceded the bridge collapse.
US authorities have also brought criminal charges against Synergy Maritime and Synergy Marine, the companies involved in managing the vessel.