Key Bridge Crash Case Sees Chief Engineer Enter Deferred Prosecution Agreement

The chief engineer of the M/V Dali has entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, admitting to conduct that violated the Ports and Waterways Safety Act in connection with the vessel’s collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This development is part of an ongoing investigation into the incident that led to the bridge’s destruction. The agreement, which defers prosecution of a criminal charge filed against the engineer, requires him to adhere to specified conditions.

Karthikeyan Deenadayalan, an Indian national, was serving as the chief engineer on the M/V Dali at the time of the bridge collapse. His previous roles also included chief engineer positions on sister vessels, the M/V Maersk Saltoro and the M/V Cezanne. The agreement signifies an admission of facts that constitute a criminal violation of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, specifically related to the failure to report a hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard.

According to the admitted facts, Deenadayalan was aware that the M/V Dali, as well as its sister vessels, were equipped with an unsafe fuel supply pump. This particular pump, identified as a flushing pump, lacked necessary redundancy, which he acknowledged compromised the vessels’ ability to navigate safely and recover from potential power loss. Deenadayalan further admitted that he understood this deficiency could negatively impact the safety of the vessel itself, as well as any structures it might encounter, including bridges.

The statement of facts also details communications and correspondence between Deenadayalan and personnel at Synergy, a company previously implicated in related charges. These communications reportedly discussed the use of the unsafe flushing pump. Deenadayalan admitted that he was instructed to send an email to the charterer of the M/V Dali that was designed to be “convincing” and avoid further scrutiny regarding the vessel’s fuel consumption, thereby concealing the use of the problematic pump. While criminal charges are presented, the legal process presumes defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, along with the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, were involved in reaching this agreement. This case is one aspect of a broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Key Bridge collapse, which has also seen indictments against other individuals and entities. The District of Maryland’s U.S. Attorney’s Office leads these efforts, focusing on priorities related to environmental protection and maritime safety.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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