Federal prosecutors have reached a deferred prosecution agreement with Karthikeyan Deenadayalan, chief engineer of the containership Dali, who admitted violating the Ports and Waterways Safety Act. He failed to report unsafe fuel systems, contributing to a severe maritime incident involving the Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in fatalities.
The NTSB reported that a loose wire caused a power failure on the cargo ship Dali, leading to a crash into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, resulting in six fatalities. Urgent safety assessments of 68 bridges across 19 states are now underway, with significant costs and delays anticipated.
The Federal navigation channel for Baltimore Harbor was fully restored just 76 days after the Dali ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The US Army Corp of Engineers confirmed the restoration of the 700-foot wide and 50-foot-deep channel after extensive underwater surveys. Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon commended the unified efforts that led to the reopening of the Federal Channel for port operations.
For over two weeks, the crew of the Dali ship, which collided with Baltimore’s Key Bridge, has remained on board. The Seafarers’ Center and response team explain that the crew is working to support recovery efforts. Despite access to resources, the crew faces uncertainty about when they can return home.
The crew members of the Singapore-flagged ship Dali, stranded after colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, were concerned about public perception. Despite being in good health, they kept quiet as they awaited the outcome of the ongoing investigation, unsure of how they were being portrayed in the world.
