The criminal investigation into the Dali bridge collapse has taken a new step.

U.S. federal prosecutors have filed a criminal charge against the chief engineer of the containership Dali. The case is linked to the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024.

The Dali lost power before it struck the bridge. The accident caused the bridge to collapse and killed six construction workers.

According to court filings, prosecutors allege that the chief engineer failed to properly report a dangerous condition on board the vessel to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The issue involves the ship’s flushing pump arrangement. Investigators believe this system played an important role in the second blackout that happened shortly before the collision.

Reports say the Dali suffered two separate electrical failures before the bridge strike. The first blackout was linked to a loose wire. The second and more serious blackout was connected to the fuel supply arrangement for the ship’s generators.

Prosecutors allege that the vessel relied on a flushing pump without proper redundancy. When the ship lost power, the system failed to restart quickly enough. As a result, the vessel lost steering and propulsion at a critical moment.

The charge against the chief engineer follows earlier criminal charges against Synergy Marine Group, the ship’s manager, and a technical superintendent. Prosecutors have accused them of hiding safety problems and violating U.S. maritime safety rules.

Synergy Marine has denied the allegations. The company said the charges are not supported by facts and said it will defend itself in court.

The chief engineer has reportedly entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors. A U.S. court held a hearing on June 16 to review the agreement.

The case has also raised concern about the crew. Some foreign seafarers linked to the Dali investigation have remained in the Baltimore area for more than two years because they may be needed as witnesses.

The criminal trial against Synergy Marine and the technical superintendent is now scheduled to begin on October 4, 2027.

The Dali accident remains one of the most serious maritime casualties in recent U.S. history. It has become a major case for the shipping industry, not only because of the loss of life and damage to infrastructure, but also because it shows how technical management, safety reporting and shipboard responsibility can become criminal issues after a major accident.