The luxury superyacht Bayesian, which tragically sank off Sicily last year claiming seven lives, including UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, has partially resurfaced as salvage crews work to complete a complex recovery operation. The painstaking effort aims to bring the British-flagged vessel ashore for a full investigation into the disaster.
Ten months after the deadly incident, the white top and distinctive blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) yacht became visible above the surface on Saturday. The vessel was positioned in a holding area alongside a large yellow floating crane barge near Porticello, close to Palermo.
The Tragic Sinking of the Bayesian
The Bayesian sank rapidly on the night of August 19, 2023, reportedly within just 16 minutes. The incident occurred during an unexpectedly severe storm as Mike Lynch hosted friends on a cruise, celebrating his recent acquittal on US fraud charges. The vessel was seeking shelter from forecast thunderstorms, but was struck by extreme weather – later identified as a mesocyclone – that brought wind speeds exceeding 70 knots (81 mph), with some reports citing gusts up to 90 mph. British investigators noted in an interim report that the vessel was violently knocked over to a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds and could not recover.
The tragedy resulted in the deaths of seven people. Among the deceased were Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch, 18, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71. Fifteen people survived, including the captain and all but one of the crew members.
Complex Salvage Operation Underway
The recovery of the Bayesian from 50 meters (165 feet) below the surface is a multimillion-pound operation involving around 70 specialist personnel from across Europe. TMC Maritime is conducting the intricate salvage work.
Over the past three days leading up to its partial resurfacing, the vessel was slowly raised from the seabed. This allowed steel lifting straps, slings, and harnesses to be secured beneath the keel. Eight steel lifting straps are now supporting the hull upright as part of a robust steel wire lifting system. As the vessel is lifted, powerful pumps work continuously to expel seawater from the hull.
A critical step in the recovery involved detaching the yacht’s 72-meter (236-foot) mast. It was severed using a remote-controlled diamond wire cutting tool and left on the seabed for later removal. Removing the mast was necessary to help bring the hull to a nearly upright position, allowing the main lifting cables to be secured effectively.
Investigation Continues Amid Conflicting Claims
Italian authorities have launched a full criminal investigation into the sinking, with Sicilian prosecutors opening an inquiry into suspected manslaughter. The yacht’s captain, James Cutfield from New Zealand, and two British crew members, Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffiths, have reportedly been placed under investigation.
The cause of the rapid sinking remains a subject of intense scrutiny and conflicting theories. Some reports, supported by yacht builder The Italian Sea Group (TISG) and the yacht owner’s wife, Angela Bacares, suggest crew negligence, such as leaving hatches or doors open, contributed to the vessel taking on water. TISG had previously stated the yacht was “unsinkable” and attributed the sinking to crew actions.
However, an interim report from the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) raised questions about the yacht’s design. The report highlighted features like its raised centreboard and high mast as potential vulnerabilities affecting stability, particularly when operating in “motoring mode.” The MAIB report challenged TISG’s claims regarding the yacht’s ability to recover from listing, stating it would capsize at a lesser angle than claimed by the builder and that lower wind speeds than those stated by TISG were sufficient to knock the vessel over.
Investigators in both the UK and Italy consider raising the Bayesian crucial to gathering further evidence and fully understanding the sequence of events that led to the tragic sinking.
Next Steps for the Recovered Yacht
TMC Maritime expects pumping water out of the vessel to continue throughout Saturday before the Bayesian is fully out of the water following a series of lifting and resting procedures. Once completely raised and secured, the vessel will be held upright for checks and preparations for its final journey.
It is anticipated that on Sunday, the floating crane platform will transport the Bayesian to the nearby Sicilian port of Termini Imerese. A specially constructed steel cradle awaits the yacht there, where it will be positioned on the quayside for detailed examination by investigators. The retrieval of the Bayesian marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to determine the precise cause of the devastating incident.
