The long-awaited salvage operation to recover the superyacht Bayesian was successfully completed, nearly a year after it sank near Sicily, resulting in the loss of seven lives among the 22 persons aboard. Italian officials announced that the luxury vessel would be suspended by a crane for inspections ordered by the public prosecutor's office, before being fully removed from the water.
Owned by British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who perished alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and five others, the yacht's tragic sinking has drawn attention from both Italian and UK authorities. Investigations revealed that Lynch and the crew were unaware of the risks posed by high wind speeds, particularly gusts exceeding 73 mph, which could lead to capsizing.
Footage from the salvage showed the 56-meter (183-foot) yacht being hoisted from the seabed, its hull appearing severely damaged and caked in mud. The ship’s name was only faintly visible during the extraction process. The vessel is to be taken to the port of Termini Imerese for further scrutiny by Italian prosecutors involved in the ongoing investigation.
Previous salvage attempts were hampered by a tragic accident that led to a diver's death during the operation. The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has also provided insights, indicating that the vessel was overwhelmed by winds of over 80 mph during the incident, leading to rapid flooding. The MAIB's initial findings, however, were limited due to no prior access to the wreck.
The yacht had been anchored off the coast of Porticello when it sank in the early hours of August 19, 2022, amidst unpredictable weather conditions. Witnesses recalled seeing the boat vanish in a matter of minutes. Among the deceased were prominent individuals such as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, as well as legal professional Chris Morvillo and cooking staff member Recaldo Thomas.
Survivors from the ordeal included Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who was among the 15 individuals rescued. The recovery of the Bayesian is expected to play a critical role in providing clarity on the events surrounding the tragic sinking.
Owned by British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who perished alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and five others, the yacht's tragic sinking has drawn attention from both Italian and UK authorities. Investigations revealed that Lynch and the crew were unaware of the risks posed by high wind speeds, particularly gusts exceeding 73 mph, which could lead to capsizing.
Footage from the salvage showed the 56-meter (183-foot) yacht being hoisted from the seabed, its hull appearing severely damaged and caked in mud. The ship’s name was only faintly visible during the extraction process. The vessel is to be taken to the port of Termini Imerese for further scrutiny by Italian prosecutors involved in the ongoing investigation.
Previous salvage attempts were hampered by a tragic accident that led to a diver's death during the operation. The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has also provided insights, indicating that the vessel was overwhelmed by winds of over 80 mph during the incident, leading to rapid flooding. The MAIB's initial findings, however, were limited due to no prior access to the wreck.
The yacht had been anchored off the coast of Porticello when it sank in the early hours of August 19, 2022, amidst unpredictable weather conditions. Witnesses recalled seeing the boat vanish in a matter of minutes. Among the deceased were prominent individuals such as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, as well as legal professional Chris Morvillo and cooking staff member Recaldo Thomas.
Survivors from the ordeal included Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who was among the 15 individuals rescued. The recovery of the Bayesian is expected to play a critical role in providing clarity on the events surrounding the tragic sinking.
