Following an extensive and dangerous salvage operation, the wreck of the Bayesian superyacht is now being examined by Italian prosecutors as they seek answers behind the boat's tragic sinking last summer during a violent storm.
Investigators Begin Scrutinizing Wreck of $30M Superyacht Bayesian After Recovery from Seabed
Investigators Begin Scrutinizing Wreck of $30M Superyacht Bayesian After Recovery from Seabed
The wreckage of Mike Lynch's superyacht, Bayesian, has been retrieved from the seabed in Sicily, enabling prosecutors to begin their investigation into the tragic sinking that resulted in seven deaths.
The wreckage of the British superyacht Bayesian, valued at $30 million, is now safely on land in Sicily after a complex recovery operation. The vessel was lifted from the seabed, where it sank last summer during a storm that tragically claimed the lives of seven individuals, including its owner, tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and his daughter.
The retrieval operation, which was crucial for an ongoing criminal investigation by Italian prosecutors, involved multiple challenges. Following the commanding recovery efforts, Lynch's yacht was finally pulled from its watery grave and transported to the port of Termini Imerese. The operation was fraught with obstacles, including the unfortunate death of a diver in an underwater explosion that led to a temporary pause in salvage efforts.
Despite initial setbacks, experts managed to detach the massive 72-meter aluminum mast from the vessel, allowing for its recovery last week. Following strict protocols to prevent fuel spills during the three-day ascent, the Bayesian was secured by a floating crane and subsequently lowered into its cradle onshore.
The urgency of the investigation comes in light of unexplained circumstances surrounding the yacht’s rapid sinking, which left smaller vessels in the area undamaged. The local prosecutors have opened a criminal inquiry into potential manslaughter and negligence, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the disaster.
As the wreck remains in a compromised state, maritime investigators, including the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), have been granted access to the remains for analysis. A prior interim report from the MAIB indicated that the yacht's unique design might have contributed to its vulnerability in high winds, suggesting both crew and owner might have lacked awareness of these risks.
Lawyers representing the victims have described this investigative phase as vital, stating that direct examination of the wreck will reveal how water infiltrated the yacht, leading to its sinking. The prosecutors and families of those lost hope that this examination will illuminate the causes behind the tragedy and whether human error or design flaws played a pivotal role in the accident.
