Scott Mazzioni

Synergy Marine Private Limited and Synergy Maritime Private Limited, along with Superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, are charged with conspiracy, willingly failing to immediately inform the Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and false statements.

Kelly Hayes, the U.S.

Attorney for Maryland, says the ship used the wrong kind of pump, making it unable to restart after it lost power and tried to hide that information.

The corporations could be on the hook for as much as $10 billion in fines.

I'm Scott Mazzioni in Baltimore.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown says the states reached a settlement with Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine Group, the owner and manager of the Dali.

The ship accidentally hit the bridge more than two years ago.

Brown says the settlement resolves a portion of the state's claims that deal with the crash and subsequent collapse of the bridge.

The settlement does not resolve claims against shipbuilder Hyundai.

The National Transportation Safety Board report found a loose wire was responsible for the ship losing power and ultimately hitting the bridge.

The announcement comes after Ace American Insurance Company settled with the shipowner last week.

The insurance company paid out $350 million to the state of Maryland after the incident.

There are still more than 50 parties, including the city of Baltimore, suing Grace Ocean and Synergy over the crash.

For NPR News, I'm Scott Mazzioni in Baltimore.

I suspect we will be taking up very quickly the war powers resolution on Iran that reinforces the notion that the president has to make an argument to justify military strikes.

And he's failed to do that.