Recovery of Sunken Superyacht Bayesian Off Sicily: A Step Towards Understanding a Tragic Incident

Italian authorities have lifted the superyacht Bayesian from the seabed near Sicily nearly a year after it tragically sank, leading to a detailed investigation into potential safety oversights, including unanticipated weather vulnerabilities.

A superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily nearly a year ago has been successfully raised from the seabed, following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of seven individuals among the 22 who were onboard. The vessel, known as the Bayesian, will now undergo a series of inspections as mandated by the public prosecutor's office before being completely removed from the water.

The Bayesian was commanded by British tech mogul Mike Lynch, who tragically perished in the incident alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and five other passengers. Recent investigations revealed that both Lynch and the crew were oblivious to certain vulnerabilities of the yacht, particularly that high wind speeds exceeding 73mph could lead to its capsizing.

Visuals from the salvage project depicted the 56-meter (183-foot) yacht, severely damaged and encrusted with mud, being lifted into view thanks to cranes. Footage illustrates the vessel's name becoming increasingly visible as it broke the surface. The yacht is set to be transported to the port of Termini Imerese on Monday, where prosecutors are carrying out investigations into the sinking.

Previous salvage attempts faced setbacks, including the death of a diver involved in the recovery last month. An investigation by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) revealed that wind gusts surpassing 73mph on the day of the incident would likely lead to a capsize, further complicated by the fact that gusts of over 80mph struck the vessel, leading it to submerge within mere seconds. The preliminary report from the MAIB is based on limited verified evidence, primarily due to a lack of access to the wreckage at the time of reporting.

Both UK and Italian investigators assert that recovering the yacht is critical in piecing together the timeline and mechanics of the tragedy. The Bayesian was located off Porticello, a small fishing village, when it sank in the early hours of August 19 last year, with witnesses recalling its swift disappearance during extreme weather conditions. The victims included not only Lynch and his daughter but also British national Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his spouse Neda Morvillo, as well as Canadian-Antiguan chef Recaldo Thomas. Meanwhile, fifteen individuals, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued during the chaotic event.