M/V Dali Chief Engineer Enters Into Deferred Prosecution Agreement in Key Bridge Crash Related Case

Today, the United States and Motor Vessel Dali Chief Engineer, Karthikeyan Deenadayalan, entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement in which he admitted to conduct that constitutes a criminal violation of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act. This case is related to the indictment unsealed last month that charged three defendants in connection with the vessel crash that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The agreement defers prosecution of the charge in a criminal information recently filed against the chief engineer provided he abides by the agreement's conditions. Deenadayalan, an Indian national, served as the chief engineer aboard the Dali when it crashed into the Key Bridge. He also previously served as the chief engineer on the Dali's sister vessels, the Motor Vessel Maersk Saltoro and the Motor Vessel Cezanne.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the deferred prosecution agreement with Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson, Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD); Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Acting Director Zinnia James, Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS); and Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall, Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID).

As part of the agreement, Deenadayalan admitted to facts that constitute a criminal violation of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act for failing to report a hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard. According to the statement of facts, Deenadayalan admitted he was aware that the Dali, Maersk Saltoro, and Cezanne used an unsafe fuel supply pump. Deenadayalan acknowledged that the unsafe pump, known as a flushing pump, lacked redundancy, which compromised the vessels' safe navigation and ability to recover from the loss of power. He admitted that he knew that the inability to recover from a loss of power could adversely affect the safety of the vessel itself, as well as any bridge, structure, or shore area.

The statement of facts also detailed the chief engineer's conversations and correspondence with Synergy personnel, including Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, who was separately charged in a criminal indictment, about the use of the unsafe flushing pump on the vessels. Deenadayalan further admitted that Nair directed him to send a "convincing" email to the charterer of the Dali so that the charterer would not ask additional questions about fuel consumption on the Dali to prevent revealing the use of the flushing pump.

The charges contained in an information are allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, CGIS, and EPA-CID for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps, Bijon A. Mostoufi, and Kimberly S. Phillips, along with ENRD Trial Attorney Leigh Rendé, who are prosecuting this matter and the related criminal case against Synergy Maritime Pvt Ltd., Synergy Marine Pvt Ltd., and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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