Federal prosecutors in the United States have filed criminal charges against the chief engineer of the containership Dali, the vessel involved in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March 2024. The incident resulted in the deaths of six construction workers and caused major disruption to port operations.

According to court records, Chief Engineer Karthikeyan Deenadayalan has been charged with violating U.S. maritime safety laws. Prosecutors claim he failed to report the use of a flushing pump arrangement that was connected to the vessel’s fuel supply system.

Investigators said the flushing pump was being used to provide fuel to the ship’s generators. However, the system was not designed to automatically restart after a power failure. Authorities believe this setup played a role in the vessel’s repeated loss of electrical power before the collision.

The Dali suffered multiple blackouts while leaving the Port of Baltimore on March 26, 2024. The vessel lost propulsion and steering, eventually striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge and causing the structure to collapse into the water.

The chief engineer has reportedly entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with federal authorities. Under such an agreement, prosecution may be delayed or dismissed if certain conditions are met. Further court proceedings are expected in the coming months.

The case is part of a wider investigation into the Dali incident. Earlier, prosecutors also filed charges against the vessel’s operator and a shoreside technical supervisor. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine the circumstances that led to one of the most significant maritime accidents in recent U.S. history.