Key Bridge Crash: Dali Engineer Admits Safety Violation

State of MD - The chief engineer of the cargo ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge has admitted to a federal crime. Karthikeyan Deenadayalan entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement today in Baltimore.

He admitted to conduct that violates the Ports and Waterways Safety Act. This stems from last month's indictment that charged three defendants connected to the bridge collapse.

Under the agreement, prosecution of the charge will be deferred as long as Deenadayalan follows the agreement's conditions. He served as chief engineer aboard the Dali when it crashed into the bridge. He also worked the same role on two sister ships, the Maersk Saltoro and the Cezanne.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the agreement alongside leaders from the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division, the FBI's Baltimore Field Office, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division.

Deenadayalan admitted he failed to report a hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard. He acknowledged knowing that the Dali and its sister ships used an unsafe fuel supply pump.

That pump, called a flushing pump, lacked backup support. Deenadayalan admitted this flaw compromised the ships' ability to navigate safely and recover from a power loss.

He also admitted knowing that this kind of power failure could endanger the ship itself, along with any bridge, structure, or shoreline nearby. Court documents detail his communications with Synergy personnel, including Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, who faces separate criminal charges.

Deenadayalan admitted that Nair told him to send a "convincing" email to the Dali's charterer. The goal was to stop the charterer from asking more questions about fuel use that could expose the unsafe pump.

U.S. Attorney Hayes thanked the FBI, Coast Guard Investigative Service, and EPA-CID for their investigative work. She also credited the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and trial attorney handling this case and the related case against Synergy Maritime Pvt Ltd., Synergy Marine Pvt Ltd., and Nair.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.