CHARLESTON — Federal authorities have charged a crew member of the cargo ship that raced down the Cooper River, shutting down the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and damaging a number of vessels docked along the Charleston Harbor.

The throttle on MSC Michigan VII was stuck in the full-speed ahead position on June 5, 2024 , as the approximately 1,000-foot, 150,000-pound ship left the Port of Charleston’s North Charleston Terminal. The propulsion problem caused the vessel to reach 14 knots, about twice the normal speed for ships navigating through the harbor.

Problems with the aging ship had been known for at least a couple months before the ship’s arrival in Charleston, federal prosecutors revealed in criminal documents filed Sept. 18 against Fernando San Diego San Juan. The 61-year-old F

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